UNITED NATIONS: Russia on Wednesday blocked a UN draft resolution on Libyaseeking an inclusion of the word “mercenary” in the text, diplomats said.
“There are a few sections in the resolution that are of concern,” Russianambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told reporters following a SecurityCouncil meeting.
“We decided to continue our discussions with others,” he said.
Russia had already halted the approval process that would have allowed fora vote on the text on Thursday or Friday.
While the British resolution states “concern over the growing involvementof mercenaries in Libya,” Moscow wants the word changed to “foreignterrorist fighters.”
Moscow is accused of sending several thousand mercenaries from the privateRussian security company Wagner to support military strongman KhalifaHaftar, who controls much of the south and east of Libya.
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The country has been mired in chaos since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising thatkilled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with two rival administrationsvying for power: Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) and the UN-recognizedGovernment of National Accord (GNA).
“Talks continue,” said British ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce. “We wouldlike as far as possible to have unity on the text.”
She said that a vote as soon as possible is requested by UN chief AntonioGuterres, and she reminded all parties that two and a half weeks had passedsince a January 19 international summit in Berlin on the matter.
The Security Council has been unable to reach a resolution over the past 10months during an ongoing assault by Haftar to seize Tripoli, the GNA’sbase. -APP/AFP
