Libya: UAE unacceptable in our political talks

By Diana Shalhoub

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Libya's permanent representative to the UN said that his country "no longer accepts the UAE's presence in its political dialogues".

This came during Taher al-Sunni's speech at the UN Security Council session on Libya, late Wednesday in New York.

"The UAE is involved in supporting the failed coup attempt in Libya without a doubt, and threatening international peace and security in several regions," al-Sunni said.

He went on to say that Abu Dhabi "has not been able to refute until this day what has been mentioned in the UN reports against it, and we no longer accept its presence in our political dialogues."

In May, a UN "confidential" reported by some US media outlets stated the UAE formed an air bridge to supply weapons to its ally in Libya, warlord Khalifa Haftar and provided him with helicopters and drones to improve the military capabilities of his militia.

The Libyan representative also affirmed that signing "security and military agreements, alliances, etc. with any country is a sovereign and legitimate right and we reject describing it as foreign interference."

He went on to say: "If our agreements are illegal, then all our agreements with your countries, whether security, economic or oil, that you have concluded with us are also illegal."

Al-Sunni condemned "threats" by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to interfere in Libya and arm the tribes there.

He stressed that Libya "will face any assault with firmness and strength."

Since April 2019, Haftar's illegitimate forces have launched attacks on the Libyan capital of Tripoli and other parts of northwestern Libya, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths, including civilian women and children.

However, the Libyan government has recently achieved significant victories, pushing Haftar's forces out of Tripoli and the strategic city of Tarhuna.

The country's new government was founded in 2015 under an UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to a military offensive by warlord Haftar, who has been backed by France, Russian paramilitary group Wagner, United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The UN recognizes the Libyan government headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj as the country's legitimate authority.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat