The Chairman of the High Council of Libya, Khaled Ammar al-Mishri, has underlined that Qatar is a strategic ally of his country and has played a great role at all regional and international levels to stop the fighting in Libya and support the internationally-recognised legitimate authority.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) during his visit to Doha, al-Mishri said that he had held fruitful meetings with Qatari officials pertaining to the future of the political situation in Libya, especially after the ceasefire agreement reached in Geneva recently.
He added that the exchange of visits between Qatari and Libyan officials are continuing and have never stopped, and there were also several bilateral meetings between the two sides in many countries, aiming mainly to ensure the unity and safety of Libya, stop the fighting and support the legitimate authority.
The Libyan official described Qatar as a strategic ally, and said that Qatar and Turkey were the only countries to stand by Libya in its crisis, especially when Haftar’s forces were on the outskirts of Tripoli.
Al-Mishri stressed the importance of continuous communication between brothers and friends in the current stage in particular, noting that his visit to Doha fell within this framework.
He indicated that his visit to Qatar was preceded by visits by the Libyan foreign and interior ministers, and that the Libyan defence minister will visit Doha next week.
He explained that the visits aim at co-ordination between the Qatari and Libyan sides regarding the upcoming intra-Libyan talks after the ceasefire agreement, as the upcoming talks will determine the fate of Libya for a long time.
Al-Mishri noted that Qatar’s position is consistent and clear with regard to the Libyan policy, and that among these constants is Qatar’s keenness on holding the talks among the Libyans themselves, and the absence of any foreign interference in the Libyan discussions.
He stressed that Qatar is keen on ending the fighting between the Libyans, as asserted by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, when the Amir met him in Doha, and as affirmed by HE the Shura Council Speaker, Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, in the meetings he held during his visit.
Al-Mishri stated that Qatar’s position stresses the need to adhere to the political solution in Libya and welcomes the ceasefire and the negotiations that will take place soon in Tunisia and all political tracks.
He also praised Qatar’s steadfast support for Libya since the revolution, and its important and vital role in supporting Libya at the international level through its international efforts to recognise the National Transitional Council, in addition to organising the first forum for the Libyan local councils in Doha.
He added that Qatar helped Libya overcome the obstacles placed for it at the international level, through the moves led by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and said: “His Excellency played important roles in difficult moments through international communication, and he had a very big role as he worked on the Libyan file with the same spirit as the Libyans.”
He applauded Qatar’s permanent support for Libya in times of crises, disasters and difficult times, noting that Qatar provided humanitarian aid and played an important role in the Libyan reconciliation, especially when fighting broke out between the Tuareg and Tebu tribes.
The reconciliation agreement was signed between the two parties in Doha, and Qatar pledged at that time many measures that contributed to ending the fighting between the two sides.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the High Council of Libya reiterated Qatar’s firm position in support of the legitimate authority in Libya, and its categorical refusal to reach power by conspiracy.
He underlined that Qatar has never supported one Libyan faction at the expense of another. On the contrary, its role assisted the legitimate government in extending its influence over Libya, a role that any brother or friend should have.
Regarding the calls to accelerate the elections in Libya, al-Mishri stressed the importance of ending the transitional stages in Libya to reach a permanent stage that is based on a legal basis, which is the conduct of a referendum on the constitution.
In conclusion, he stated that the recognised authority in Libya has relied heavily on the Qatari role in clarifying the truth in several international forums, and Qatar has succeeded in that.
Therefore, the Qatari role in Libya is always supportive of the legitimate authority.