Mediaboss Marketing

By Pierre Tran

Paris The next few weeks will be critical for Libya as much depends on opposing sides of the civil war maintaining a fragile ceasefire and their foreign backers observing an arms embargo, Tarek Megerisi, policy fellow at the European Council for Foreign Relations, said in a panel debate on Libya held in Paris, France on January 22, 2020.

The ceasefire and embargo were two key measures in the 55-point communiqu issued at the Jan. 19 Berlin conference on Libya, he said at the debate, titled What Next for Libya After the Berlin Conference.

A split in Europe, the absence of the US, and direct intervention by Turkey and Syrian militia are among foreign elements which add complexity to armed strife in Libya, panel speakers said.

That civil war is effectively a proxywar, fought by foreign nations through the Libyan Government of National Accord and the rebel forces, said Leela Jacinto, journalist at television channel France 24 and moderator for the ECFR panel.

The recent deployment of Turkish troops and Syrian militia to back the national government was a game changer, she said.

The Berlin conference offered a slim chance for the ceasefire to be upheld and would call for the foreign backers to uphold their commitments to step back from the conflict. More than 2,000 people have been killed and 200,000 displaced.

Everybody is ready to resume fighting so unless this brief opening is seized quickly, well be back at square one in a couple of weeks, Megerisi said.

In Libya, there were low expectations for the Berlin conference, with a sense of helplessness as Libyans saw themselves as merely spectatorsat a football match, said Mary Fitzgerald, researcher and consultant.

At the high-level gathering in Berlin, backed by the UN and German chancellor Angela Merkel, the national government and rebel force agreed on those officers who would sit on a military committee (5+5 committee) for stabilization in the ceasefire.

Libyan and many international representatives signed up for that Berlin accord, the latest in a series of political efforts to stem the war racking the Arab nation since 2014.

In Tripoli, in western Libya, there is the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) led by prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj, while in Benghazi in the east, there is Gen. Khalifa Haftar, head of the opposing Libyan National Army (LNA). There are also a number of militia forces active on the ground.

The long-standing conflict intensified some 10 months ago, when Haftar launched an air and ground attack on Tripoli in a bid to overthrow the GNA.

Just shortly before the Berlin conference, Haftar seized control of the nations oil facilities in the eastern region, effectively the economic life blood of Libya.

The US embassy in Libya formally called on the LNA to lift that oil blockade, the only international response to that action, with no joint European reaction, Fitzgerald said. It remained to be seen whether Washington would put pressure on Haftar to end that blockade.

A sense of the cynicism over the Berlin meeting grew out of the knowledge that the formal communiqu was drafted weeks before the conference while there were blatant violations of the arm embargo and fighting on the ground, she said.

Germany and the European Union account for some 75 percent of foreign aid to Libya, where oil exports generate $55 million in daily revenue, said Olivier Valle, researcher and consultant, and specialist in corruption.

The Libyan National Oil Company receives oil and gas revenues from both the eastern and western region, sends the funds to the central bank, which sends them to commercial banks, he said. That meant an equal distribution of wealth between the national government and LNA rebel force.

The Berlin accord included redistribution of resources and reunification of economic institutions, a positive element and first time the call was made in clear terms, he said.

In the European Union, there are differing views, with one side calling for Europe to act as honest broker or mediator, while the other side prefers to wait and seeor pursue national interests, Megerisi said. That split is not limited to France and Italy, with the latter making effort to build bridges with the former, he added.

Paris supports Haftar in the east, with the militia led by the Libyan general acting as a buffer to Islamic State irregular fighters entering from neighboring Chad, crossing Libya to enter Niger, an allied nation in the French Barkhane military mission in sub-Saharan Africa.

Meanwhile, Rome backs al-Sarraj and the national government as there is a oil pipeline and large Italian investment in western Libya. Italy also looks to Tripoli to crack down on people smuggling across the Mediterranean to land on Italian soil.

That conference could only be held in Berlin as Merkel was seen as neutral, while Paris is seen as backing Haftar, Valle said.

France and Germany are divided on Turkeys desire to join the European Union, with Paris blocking Ankaras application for membership, he said. That French rejection is a critical factor in Turkeys entry into Libya, which also recalls the days of its occupancy under the Ottoman empire.

The tighter links between Tripoli and Turkey reflect a perceived lack of support from the EU and led to the Libyan national government signing a memorandum of understanding with Ankara for gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

That deal with Turkey has startled nations in an EastMed coalition which includes Cyprus, France, Greece and Italy, which are working with Egypt and Israel.

Haftar has close links with the U.S., as he has worked with the CIA, which sheltered him and helped him train 600 fighters in Egypt, Valle said. Before taking action, Haftar communicates to the U.S. either through Egypt or directly with president Donald Trump, he added. Haftar organized the coup dtat against then Libya leaderMoammarKadaffi.

The U.S. position is completely unclear, said Megerisi. There is no interest as president Donald Trump does not want to enter a quagmire.

But the U.S. is a superpower and if Washington made its position clear, that allowed the other actors to adapt to it.

France has long had a presence on the ground in Libya, mostly undisclosed. A helicopter shot down in 2016 killed three special forces troops, a deadly incident acknowledged by then president Franois Hollande.

Last April, Tunisian authorities caught 13 armed French nationals crossing the common border with Libya, with Radio France International reporting those were French intelligence officers.

The afternoon daily Le Monde ran a Jan. 21 2017 editorial pointing up how the private office of the then defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, had excluded its defense reporter from briefings of the defense ministry.

That exclusion was in response to a Feb. 25, 2016 article from the reporter disclosing French special forces and agents of the DGSE secret intelligence service conducting clandestine operations in Libya against the Islamic State, the editorial said.

The Le Monde article apparently particularly annoyed Le Drian as the reporter revealed that Parisinitiated a Nov. 13 2015 US air strike which killed Abu Nabil, an IS leader in Libya, weekly magazine lObs reported.

Besides support from Egypt, France, Russia and Saudi Arabia, the LNA relies on mercenaries from Sudan, Chad and Russia, while the United Arab Emirates is the most robust backer of Hafta, having broken the arms embargo in the past and given air support, Fitzgerald said.

Last April, the UN special representative to Libya, Ghassan Salam, said keep your hands out of Libya, Jacinto said.

The Berlin conference documents highlighted a desire to see some changes.

We call on all parties concerned to redouble their efforts for a sustained suspension of hostilities, de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire.

We commit to unequivocally and fully respect and implement the arms embargo established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) and the Councils subsequent Resolutions, including the proliferation of arms from Libya, and call on all international actors to do the same.

There wasneed to follow up on the Berlin conference, otherwise Europe would be a bystander as Russia and Turkey move in,Megerisi said.

European states needed to ensure the arms embargo was observed and put pressure on the militia groups, with tools such as EU sanctions, travel bans, and bilateral pressure.

Libya is the pre-eminent case for Europe to play a more active role, he said.

The alternative was marginalization of Europe.

The featured photo shows French President Emmanuel Macron and General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), attendingd a press conference after talks about easing tensions in Libya, in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, near Paris, on 25 July 2017 (AFP)

The featured photo is from the following source:

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/libya-conflict-france-honest-broker

Also, see the following:

Chancellor Merkels Financial Times Interview: Shaping a Way Ahead for Germany

And the following:

The Libyan Conference in Berlin

Post Views: 652

View original post here:
Europe and the Libyan Crisis: Geopolitics of a European Union or Traditional European Geopolitics? - Second Line of Defense

At an impromptu news conference from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, President Donald Trump threatened trade war with the European Union, fumed about teen activist Greta Thunberg, and offered a questionable analysis of impeachment proceedings. Trump also said he knew about injuries suffered by U.S. troops in Iran's January 8 airstrike, but announced that no Americans were harmed because he didn't think their injuries were serious.

The 11 injured service members showed signs of concussions and were, as of last week, being treated for potential traumatic brain injuries.

Trump told reporters this morning that at the time of his initial statements, he "heard they had headaches and a couple of other things." Asked whether he considered potential brain trauma serious, Trump said he did not hear about this part until several days ago but still did not consider these to be "serious injuries relative to other injuries I've seen."

On Davos itself, Trump touted all the world leaders he was meeting and all the deals he was supposedly making. Which translates roughly to "expect more tariffs."

The European Union is "frankly, more difficult to do business with than China," said Trump.

"I wanted to wait till I finished China. I didn't want to go with China and Europe at the same time," Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen. "Now China's done, and I met with the new head of the European CommissionAnd had a great talk. But I said, look, if we don't get something, I'm going to have to take action, and the action will be a very high tariffs on their cars and other things that come into our country."

Much of the focus at this morning's press conference was on impeachment proceedings, which began against Trump in the Senate yesterday. (The president admitted he's been sneaking a peek at them when he can from Davos.) Congressional Democrats have no case because "we have all the material, they don't have the material," Trump said.

He repeated his assertion that his conversation with Ukraine's president was "perfect" and that the impeachment proceedings are "a hoax." Asked whether he still thinks climate change is a hoax, however, Trump said, "No, not at all."

(Perhaps he's just trying to boost his chances with Time magazineAsked about a Davos speech by ThunbergTime's 2019 person of the yearTrump first asked how old she was and then commented "she beat me out for Time.")

Trump also suggested that he still feels sorry for former President Bill Clinton over impeachment:

Watch the whole press conference here.

Impeachment to take longer. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (RKy.) announced revised rules for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate, after everyone complained about his initial plan, which would have seen much of the proceedings going on in the middle of the night.

"Both parties will now have 24 hours each over the course of three days to present evidence, as opposed to the two days that were originally allotted," notes Reason's Billy Binion. And:

McConnell also altered a rule that would have blocked House evidence unless the Senate voted to admit it. Now all relevant documents will be automatically entered into the record and barred only if the Senate votes to exclude them.

Also:

Follow this link:
The European Union Is a Worse Business Ally Than China, Says Trump - Reason

A NEW fiftypence coin has been unveiled ahead of the UK's departure from the European Union.

The Prime Minister said he will "look ahead with confidence" to the future on Friday when the UK formally leaves the bloc - nearly four years since the referendum.

Boris Johnson will deliver a special address to the nation to mark the day and Downing Street will be illuminated with a light display designed to symbolise the strength and unity of the UK's four nations.

Union flags will line Parliament Square and the Mall, Government buildings on Whitehall will be lit up in red, white and blue throughout the evening and a countdown clock will be projected onto Number 10's black bricks from 10pm on January 31.

The PM will also chair a meeting of his Cabinet in the north of England on Friday, while he and his ministers will use this week to meet people and businesses across the UK.

Johnson will host another edition of his "People's PMQs" on Facebook on Wednesday, and children will be invited to Downing Street on Thursday where they will be given the chance to ask the PM about the future he intends to build for the next generation.

And the new commemorative 50p coin to mark Britain's departure will enter circulation on Friday.

Johnson said: "Next Friday marks an important moment in the history of our United Kingdom.

"No matter how you voted in 2016, it is the time to look ahead with confidence to the global, trail-blazing country we will become over the next decade and heal past divisions.

"That is what I will be doing on January 31 and I urge everyone across the UK to do the same."

The day after Britain's departure, the Government's new "GREAT 'Ready to Trade'" campaign will launch in 17 cities across 13 countries outside the EU as the UK seeks to build future trading relationships.

Adverts will be placed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UAE and the USA.

On Monday, a campaign with the message "This Friday the UK leaves the EU" will launch, urging businesses and citizens to check for any changes they need to make ahead of January 2021 - when the transition period will have come to an end.

Read more from the original source:
New Brexit 50p coin revealed ahead of exit from the European Union - The National

George Galloway dismissed suggestions from Nicola Sturgeon over Scotland applying to join the European Union once independent from the United Kingdom. The Scottish First Minister was refused a new independence referendum earlier this year after a campaign in which she claimed Brexit would have a devastating impact on the national economy, calling on Scots to back her plans to become an EU member state in the future. But Mr Galloway pointed out one single EU state could block any Scottish attempt to accede the union because of concerns of a domestic break.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Galloway said: "It only takes one vote to veto it. That vote would most likely come from Spain, but it could come from Italy, too.

"The Spanish would have to think very carefully about voting to allow a breakaway part of Britain to enter the EU because there are plenty of breakaway parts in Spain that would like to do the same thing.

"Moreover, very foolishly the Scottish Government, the SNP, have gotten themselves way too deeply involved in the Catalonia question giving asylum to fugitives from Spanish justice, waving the Catalan flag at every opportunity, both literally and metaphorically.

"They have done everything they could to enrage the Spanish state. You certainly cant rule out Spain would cast a nay vote on that."

JUST IN: Historic moment EU chiefs sign off Brexit deal as UK one week from freedom

Scotland refused Spanish requests to extradite Clara Ponsat, the former Education Councillor of the Generalitat of Catalonia, over the role she played in the disputed independence referendum of October 1, 2017.

The Catalan economist, the former director of the School of Economics and Finance at the University of St Andrews, initially went into exile in Belgium after the Spanish Government threatened her with arrest after the Constitutional Court of Spain declared the referendum to break away from Madrid unconstitutional.

Despite warning Spain would likely veto Scotland's request to become a member state, Mr Galloway suggested Brussels could be willing to accept Ms Sturgeon's request should she secure the independence from the UK.

He continued: "A kind of schadenfreude would guide the European Union to accept Scottish entry into the union, but only on the fiscal rules.

READ MORE: Angela Merkel demands Brussels develop 'stronger' voice as Brexit crisis about to explode

"The EU cannot afford to allow Scotland a deficit of 12 percent because if Scotland can have a deficit of 12 percent, then so could they all. In this case, the European Central Bank and the euro are bankrupt.

"But they might for reasons of discomforting the remaining British state."

Appetite for a second referendum on Scottish independence grew following the Brexit decision, where 62 percent of Scottish voters chose to remain, with 38 percent voting to leave.

Petitioning Boris Johnson, Ms Sturgeon requested that the question of independence once again be put to the Scottish people for a final decision.

DONT MISS:

EU in standing ovation as bloc chief thanks UK MEPs 'You'll be missed' [VIDEO]Remainer MP attacks Labour candidates for ignoring Corbyn's failure [INSIGHT]Boriss Brexit Day masterplan revealed - PM sets out blueprint Britain [ANALYSIS]

However, in a decisive move, the Prime Minister formally rejected the bid, putting his foot down on the issue.

In a copy of the correspondence to the First Minister posted on Twitter, Mr Johnson told Ms Sturgeon you and your predecessor made a personal promise that the 2014 Independence Referendum was a once in a generation vote.

As a result, the Prime Minister said he could not agree to any request for a transfer of power that would lead to further independence referendums.

Mr Johnson went on to state that another referendum could continue the political stagnation Scotland has seen for the past decade.

He said: It is time that we all worked to bring the whole of the United Kingdom together and unleash the potential of this great country.

View post:
Galloway names the ONE 'enraged' EU state that would destroy Sturgeon's hopes to join EU - Express

George Galloway said the UK now has the advantage in its trade talks with the EU, which he described as scrambling to keep up with us. In a scathing assessment of the European Union and its chief Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Galloway said that they need us more than we need them. He pointed out the European economies were on the edge of recession and could not withstand a disruption in trade with the UK.

This comes after Boris Johnson has signed the Brexit withdrawal agreement in Downing Street.

That paves the way for ratification by the European Parliament next week to ensure a smooth UK departure from the EU under the terms of the withdrawal agreement.

The Prime Minister hailed a "fantastic moment" for the country after he put his name to the historic agreement.

Earlier on Friday, the presidents of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the European Council Charles Michel,signed the document in Brussels, before it was transported to London by train.

JUST IN:Royal fury: Boris Johnson's unusual complaints about Queen exposed

Speaking to RT, Mr Galloway said Brexit was the culmination of a fight he had been involved in since 1975.

He explained: Now we are about to achieve it. We leave the faded and failing economies of the EU behind us and we go into the world.

He attacked European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the European Council Charles Michel as those two nameless individuals" before boasting that "they will only be ruling us until the end of the month.

Mr Galloway continued: They were amongst the people telling us there would never be a Brexit deal. Now they are a scrambling to get a deal done!

Read more here:
George Galloway PERFECTLY tears apart von der Leyen and reveals EU 'scrambling' on Brexit - Express