Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Holds Talks With Head of Libyan Government

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on Saturday discussed with the head of the Libyan government headquartered in the eastern city of Al Bayda, Abdullah Thinni, the situation in the conflict-torn country and ways to intensify the political settlement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“The sides discussed the situation in Libya as well as the state and prospects of Russian-Libyan relations, including the intensification of a politial dialogue … The Russian side reaffirmed its principled position in support of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Libyan state, as well as its readiness to continue working to achieve this goal in contacts with all key Libyan political and regional forces,” the ministry said in a statement.

Thinni, in turn, stressed the importance of Russia’s efforts to facilitate the stabilization in the conflict-hit country.

The telephone talks took place on Thinni’s initiative.

Libya has been torn apart by conflict since the long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by the parliament, backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and located in Tobruk. The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, operates in the country's west and is headquartered in Tripoli.