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Moscow to be among first capitals to be visited by UN envoy on Libya

So far no concrete dates have been agreed, the Russian deputy foreign minister said

MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. Moscow will be among the first world capitals United Nations Secretary General’s new Special Envoy on Libya Jan Kubis plans to visit, Russian President’s Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Monday.

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"Yes, we spoke on Friday," he said when asked by TASS about Kubis’ possible visit to Moscow. "Of course, he is yet to get into the swing of things, hold contacts with the Libyans. Then, one of the first capitals he plans to visit in his capacity of the Libya envoy will naturally be Moscow."

So far, however, in Bogdanov's words, no concrete dates have been agreed. "But we told him we would be ready to receive him and have serious talks any time he finds convenient," Bogdanov stressed.

"I think he is also interested in it, taking into account our understanding of what is going on there, our contacts with all the Libyan parties. So, we have common interests here," he added.

It was reported on January 18 that veteran diplomat Jan Kubis had been appointed United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Libya more than ten months after the resignation of his predecessor, Ghassan Salame. UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov was about to be appointed to the post in December but refused to take office citing family reasons.

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