With the visits of the Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis Today in Benghazi and probably on July 15 in Tripoli, Athens is re -sees the thread of Greek -biblies, in an attempt to prevent new ones in the context of Turquoise and control of migratory flows and while the internal situation in the country is extremely fluid and dangerous. The issue of marine zones and involvement in Sudan threatens to disrupt relationships with a strong neighbor, the Egypt.
Athens is ready to suggest re -establishment of dialogue for the delimitation of zonedialogue that will be practically parallel to Tripoli and Benghaziuntil there is a single representation of the country. A difficult venture, as many obstacles should overcome, with the most important of Benghazi’s pursuit of negotiating by practicing sovereignty in the maritime zones it has in theory under its control.
According to our information, from the environment of the President of the Libya Parliament Hookin this discussion should be involved in Egypt and the Cypruswhich means that at least on this side Turkey is out of negotiation. Of course, there are different groups with conflicting interests inside the two camps in Libya, with the “Prime Minister” of Benghazi Osama Hamad move in a different context than that of the President of the House. In eastern Libya, however, the general’s reason is mainly measured Haftarwhich is expected to meet today, Sunday, Mr. Gerapetritis.
The initial planning of the Greek minister envisioned a successive visit to both Benghazi and Tripoli. However, due to internal processes in Libyathe Tripoli government requested at the last minute to set another date for the visit. Something that may be positive, as the messages that contacts with General Happear will influence the talks that will be on Tuesday in Tripoli by the Foreign Minister. Tripoli reportedly gave a date for Mr Gerapetritis’ visit as soon as it became known that the appointment with General Haphtar had closed.
THE Foreign Minister He will meet in Benghazi with General Haphtar, as the Speaker of the House will be absent. The Libyan National Army (LNNA), which has dual citizenship (Libyan and American), is the powerful man of Eastern Libya and now from a red cloth for the international community, he has become an interlocutor of Americans, Europeans and the Russians.
The goal of Athens is to entertain the impressions created in the last two years where relations with Benghazi were almost non -existent, to motivate Greece’s potential and at the same time to promote the importance of avoiding provocative movements that will lead to the rupture of relations with the EU.
Positive event
In this context, however, it is recorded as a positive event for Athens that so far, despite the opposite information, the turbulence of the Turkolibyan memorandum has not been promoted to Parliament. General Happere was one of the first to oppos the memorandum to attribute it to Ankara’s blackmail to the then Tripoli Government of Al -Saraj, in order to provide Turkish military aid, which interrupted its advance to Tripoli in early 2019.
But since then a lot of water has rolled in the groove and the Turkey She has now fully restored her relations with Eastern Libya and Haftar himself, as it seeks during the country’s political transition to consolidate its influence and to secure the memorandums signed, so that they can be preserved after the emergence of a single government, wherever it is.
The agreement signed by Turkey and Libya government companiesTRO and NOC respectively, for the launch of four plots on potential Libyan EEZ marked the first alarm. Although in the first respect they do not seem to overlap areas of the Greek EEZ, as unilaterally specified by Law 4001/2011, this is only the beginning. It is Turkey’s attempt to commit to Libya in the field in a collaboration that may be expanded to a next stage and to the area claimed by Libya from Greece based on the Turkolibyan Memorandum.
OR Libyahowever, is not only in Turkey as far as the energy sector is concerned. As NOC announced last week, it will proceed with the first call for licenses for investigations and mining in 22 continental and maritime areas – in the first after 2007 – for which 37 foreign companies have already shown interest, including US Chevron, French Total and Italian ENI. The presence of such sized companies is obviously causing strong competition in the Turkish TRA.
Libya for 14 years, after the chaos that followed Gaddafi’s overthrow, is a field of confrontation between Turkey and Egypt. Cairo reacts not only to the neo -Ottoman perception of the expansion of Turkish influence on the border of the Ottoman Empire, but also because the reinforcement of Turkey’s presence in Libya may turn it into a lever of strategic pressure on Egypt, which is more than 1.000 kilometers.
Despite The Ankara – Cairo Recovery Restoration Stepssuspicion remains strong against such moves, as Egypt sees the monopoly of support and influence on General Haphtar, in which he has invested for almost ten years.
Athens, not having the opportunity or intent to get involved in a bidding game towards the warring aspects of Libya, is considering a package of cooperation that will provide for, inter alia, the resumption of the Libya Program in the Productive Schools, Continuing support for the restoration of the Benghazi port and cooperation in other areas. At the same time, the Benghazi -Athens Airline will be re -examined.
Strong paper
Greece’s strong paper is, of course, the so far with Egypt, but mainly the important role played by the EU. in Libya.
The European Commissioner for Migration is expected to visit Tripoli and Benghazi next Tuesday Brunneraccompanied by them migration ministers her Greeceher Italy and her Malte. There they will convey on both sides the clear message that Europe does not intend to allow the opening of a new large route of illegal immigration from Africa via Libya.
At the same time, cooperation measures will be considered that will obviously include the provision of know -how and funding to tackle the migration problem.
The European mission will arrive in Tripoli shortly after the visit to Gerapetritis to Benghazi and shortly before his visit to Tripoli. All this at a time when the EU At the highest level, at the Summit, he reaffirmed his position on the invalidity of the Turkolibyan Memorandum, a position that will be transferred to both sides to Libya, to make it clear that the imposition of the illegal memorandum will not be left without consequences.
Turkey has fully restored relations with General Haphtarwith the opening of a consulate in Benghazi and the expression of interest by many Turkish companies for projects in East Libya, and there is military cooperation. Following a formal visit to Turkey by General Happere, Lieutenant General Saddam Haphtar, Commander of the Libyan National Army on April 4, three military technical delegations from Eastern Libya, between the East Libya.
The CairoAccording to source information he quotes without specifying the Middle East Eye, he has addressed one of the special envoys appointed by US President Donald Trump, Masand Boulos, asking him to intervene to General Happere and to influence him so that he would not be influenced. The website says there was a telephone conversation by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati with the US official, in which the former warned of the risk of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean at a time when Egypt is called upon to manage the impact of the conflict.
OR Egyptwhich was one of the first countries to condemn the Turkolibych Memorandum in 2019, not only because of the irregularity in its signature process, but also for substance reasons, reacted strongly when Tripoli attempted a year ago to impose a maritime demarcation based on the Memorandum of Memorandum a year ago. And now, the first picture of the plots offered by Tripoli to the Turkish company TPAO is exactly this area.
On the occasion of developments in the issue of marine zones, as well as the likely involvement of Haftar’s forces in the Civil War in Sudan, supporting the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) forces against Governors who have the support of Egypt and Turkey. Libya with whom they had conversations, but without knowing exactly what was decided at their meeting.
Happy family movements
Eastern Libya, with oil sales funds and enjoying the support of regional and international forces, but mainly because of the “order” imposed by General Haphtar, is in better shape than Western Libya and is now moving in the direction of attracting foreign investment.
Belkasem Haphtar, son of the general and president of the Eastern Libya Reconstruction Fund, plays a leading role in this effort. The Son Happere has visited many European capitals, while in April he was in the United States, seeking to attract the interest of US oil companies in order to engage in energy programs and research in areas controlled by his father in East Libya.
General Happere has six sons and one daughter. Saddam Haphtar is the Commander of the Special Forces Staff, Halend Happere Commander of the Security Units and Belkashhem has undertaken the financial and reconstruction sector. The other son, Al Sadik, who had recently visited Greece as his family was vacationing in our country, is involved in the agricultural sector in eastern Libya. His other two sons, as well as his daughter, live in Virginia, USA.