MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Western countries’ interference played a significant negative role in the destruction of Libyan statehood, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Russia-Africa summit.

Putin was addressing Mohamed al-Menfi, chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council. "At the beginning [of your speech, you] mentioned the oppression and dictate that Western countries, as you put it, are imposing on us. I think it is obvious to everyone that Western countries, unfortunately, also played a significant negative role in the destruction of Libyan statehood," the Russian leader emphasized.

Putin noted, however, that he would not comment on Libya’s domestic political processes, which had also been complex. "But Western interference did play a role and led to the destruction of Libyan statehood. To me, that much is obvious," he concluded.

The Russian leader also noted that in his speech, the chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council had drawn attention to the issues of greatest concern to the Libyan people: restoring national unity and the country’s territorial integrity, as well as the need to hold presidential and parliamentary elections.