A well-informed source, briefing the US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, informed Turkish diplomacy that there are preparations to form a parallel government in Libya, and warned him that the political process would spiral out of control and return to “square one.”
2218News has earned that, during his recent visit to Turkey, Norland held separate meetings with Libyan leaders present there; to convince them of the necessity of urging their representatives in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum to agree on a flexible formula that pushes the consultations forward.
Ankara informed the US envoy about its concerns in Libya, stressing that any move would affect its interests; will push it to support the current and presidential government, despite its reservations about some of the positions of the Head of the Presidential Council, Mohammad Menfi.
The source told “218News” that Norland will meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov this week, without disclosing the exact date and place of the meeting, pointing out that Moscow refuses to hold elections in Libya.
The Russian refusal is countered by pressure from the United States, as Washington stresses the need to hold the elections on their scheduled date on December 24, and considers them an essential step to end a decade of conflict in Libya.
It is noteworthy that the US ambassador had met, during the visit, the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister and officials from the Ministry of Defense and Intelligence.
