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Terrorists in Libya try to carry out expansion to neighboring countries, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister stressed that there is no alternative to political settlement through the nationwide dialogue involving all ethnic, religious and political forces

MOSCOW, April 24. /TASS/. Terrorists in Libya are taking advantage of the long-running conflict in the country to carry out their expansion to the neighboring countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the Moscow Conference on International Security on Wednesday.

"We need to put an end to the long-standing domestic conflict in Libya, the territory of which is still used by terrorists and criminal groups not only for torpedoing peaceful process, but also for expansion to many neighboring states," the top Russian diplomat said.

Lavrov stressed that there is no alternative to political settlement through the nationwide dialogue involving all ethnic, religious and political forces. "It’s of principal importance that external players must not try to exert unilateral influence on any situation but they should coordinate their steps in the interests of achieving generally recognized compromises under the United Nations’ auspices," he said.

Currently, there are two governments in Libya: Tripoli’s Government of National Accord led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and recognized by the international community and the interim Cabinet of Abdullah Al-Thani who is acting in the country’s east together with the elected parliament and supported by the Libyan National Army of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

On April 4, Haftar announced the launch of an offensive on Tripoli. Meanwhile, Sarraj ordered all military units subordinate to him to brace for a defensive operation.

The Eighth Moscow Conference on International Security is held on April 23-25. The agenda includes crucial issues related to international security, and the sides will exchange views on modern military dangers and threats, including improving the arms control system. The participants will also hash over the situation in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America. The defense ministers from at least 35 countries and more than 1,000 experts from over 100 countries are taking part in the event.