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Palermo Gathering Shows Libya Matters, Settlement Prospects

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Palermo Gathering Shows Libya Matters, Settlement Prospects UK £2 Issue 182, Year 4 November 18, 2018 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com Iran in Muslim Abu Dhabi’s survival soldiers in oil ambitions mode World War I Pages 15,19 Page 6 Page 18 Palermo gathering shows Libya matters, settlement prospects remain uncertain ► Both Italy and France appear to realise that their spat did them no favours internationally and seriously damaged their credibility in Libyan eyes. Michel Cousins ously damaged their credibility in Libyan eyes. As the key Europeans at the conference, both seem willing Palermo to leave the Libya file in the hands of UN Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame. he presence of top officials Palermo was no game changer, from 30 countries in a confer- though. There was no ground-break- ence about the Libyan crisis ing initiative that could move Libya T indicates that Libya matters on an assured road to peace but Sala- for many nations, especially key Eu- me claimed it had been a success. ropean ones and the neighbouring “Palermo will be remembered as a Arab region. milestone,” he said, “to bring back Among those who attended were peace, security and prosperity to the the presidents of Egypt, Tunisia, Ni- Libyan people.” ger and Switzerland, the vice-presi- The Italians went out of their way dent of Turkey, the prime ministers to accommodate Libyan Field-Mar- of Algeria, Malta and Greece, the shal Khalifa Haftar, showing that European Union’s council president they saw his role as crucial in the Lib- and its foreign policy head, foreign yan crisis. They organised a special ministers from France, Morocco, meeting on the sidelines of the con- Chad and Qatar and officials from 18 ference so Haftar did not have to at- other countries. tend the official proceedings, which It is unlikely that so many would he had refused to do. have turned up to a Libya conference Ostensibly to discuss regional se- a year ago. It was noticeable, how- curity, the special meeting was at- Dividends. Yasin Aktay, a Turkish ruling party member of the parliament, speaks during a ever, that the United States, United tended by Haftar, Chairman of the commemoration event for Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Turkey’s endgame Kingdom and Germany sent minor Presidential Council of Libya Fayez concerning the killing of the journalist has come under scrutiny. Experts said the steady stream of delegations, an indication that, for al-Sarraj, Egyptian President Abdel leaks about the case through pro-government media was an attempt to destabilise Saudi Arabia. them, there are more important is- Fattah al-Sisi, Tunisian President Beji Other possible benefits for Ankara could include the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based sues than Libya. Caid Essebsi, Russian Prime Minis- cleric accused by Turkish officials of involvement in a coup two years ago, to persuade Turkish The United States, in particular, ter Dmitry Medvedev, Italian Prime President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “to ease pressure on the Saudi government” over the Khashoggi does not seem to think there are any Minister Giuseppe Conte, EU Council case, as reported by NBC News in the United States. P4 (AFP) particular reasons to get involved in President Donald Tusk, French For- the Libyan crisis. The attack on the eign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and The conference revealed continu- Sarraj that “there is no point chang- on Haftar’s show-stopping appear- US Consulate in Benghazi in 2012 Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Milan- ing frictions between Libya’s main ing the horse while crossing the riv- ance and disappearance as well as on pushed Washington to limit its inter- esi. players. Haftar objected to the pres- er.” This was taken to mean that the Egypt, Oktay said there had been a est in Libyan issues to the counter- There were complaints from some ence of Muslim Brotherhood mem- field-marshal agreed to Sarraj staying “last-minute fait accompli by some” terrorism dimension. Libyans opposed to Haftar that the ber Khalid al-Mishri, attending as on for the time being. who had abused Italian hospitality Significantly in Palermo, the conference deliberately enhanced president of the High Council of Even if the French and Italians by “hit and run.” French and the Italians seemed to the field-marshal’s status. He became State, as well as Presidential Coun- smoothed over their differences, par- The United Nations and foreign be less at loggerheads over Libya the star of the show, although he did cil Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, ties in the Libyan settlement process powers involved in Libya know very than in the past. When, at the end of that by the manner of his show-stop- because of his support for the former will probably have to contend with well, however, that key countries of July, it announced that it would have ping arrival and departure. pro-Islamist Libya Dawn regime in the risk that some regional powers the region will be playing a role in the a conference on Libya, Rome was For much of the first day of the Tripoli. could turn into spoilers if unhappy future of Libya. Right after Palermo, widely seen as a spoiler, intent on conference, it was not known if Haf- Questions remain about what role about their role. Conte flew to Abu Dhabi to brief Emi- undermining the initiative by French tar would attend at all. He turned Haftar will play in the future. It is An inkling of that risk was the at- rati leaders on the talks. President Emmanuel Macron to have up in the evening, supposedly at hard to say whether Haftar and Sar- titude of Turkish Vice-President elections in Libya this December. the urging of Russia and Egypt, but raj have an understanding on a work- Fuat Oktay, who walked out of the Michel Cousins is a contributor to Both Italy and France appear to refused to participate in official pro- ing relationship. They had separate conference, objecting to the fact that The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. realise that their spat did them no ceedings, leaving Palermo the next talks, attended in part by Conte. An he was not invited to the sidelines favours internationally and seri- morning. Italian spokesman said Haftar told event. In a thinly veiled, sharp attack P2 Marathon ‘fills the heart of Beirut’ with joy — once a year Samar Kadi similarities are embraced for a Lebanon to take part in the mara- more prosperous future,” said May thon. Leading the field this year Beirut Khalil, founder and president of was Moroccan Mohamed Reda el the Beirut Marathon Association, Aaraby, who set a Beirut Marathon nder the motto “We fill the event’s organiser. record by finishing the course in the heart of Beirut,” run- “In times of uncertainty, it is im- 2 hours, 10 minutes, 41 seconds. ners and bystanders portant to remind people of what Ethiopia’s Medine Armino, who U packed the streets of the is important and good, namely finished in 2:29:31, won the wom- Lebanese capital amid colourful healthy competition, unity, pros- en’s division. balloons, confetti and blaring mu- perity, joy and, most of all, peace.” Children ran with their parents in sic for the 16th Beirut International Khalil, a marathon runner until the 1km race for kids, while fathers Marathon. a near-fatal accident in 2001 de- and mothers pushing baby strollers Some 48,000 people from 109 prived her of pursuing her passion, took part in the 8km fun run. countries participated November has long sought to instil the run- Several NGOs took the opportu- 11 in various runs, including the ning culture in Lebanon. nity of the huge crowd to raise pub- marathon, half marathon, 8km She said the popularity of the lic awareness about their causes. race and an 8km “fun run.” marathon showed “that people can Organising such a running event People of different ages, nation- unite if given the right platform in Lebanon was not easy, Khalil alities and backgrounds ran side and a safe, inclusive environment said, noting that they had to con- by side under sunny skies with a where every individual feels that front political and cultural obsta- backdrop of mountains framing the he or she is a true partner — a stake- cles, among others. coast. Cheerleaders with colourful holder — in the event.” “We had to build trust and inter- pompoms and dancing to high- Runners included members of est little by little,” she said. energy music were on small stages parliament, representatives of dip- The Beirut Marathon is mostly along the course to encourage par- lomatic missions, the UN peace- a joyful event, as one runner de- ticipants as they ran by. keeping force in southern Lebanon scribed it “the smiling marathon “The Beirut Marathon is an af- and the Lebanese Army. because everybody was happy.” firmation of the power of sport to Record run. Moroccan Mohamed Reda el Aaraby arrives at the Athletes from Ethiopia, Cyprus, create a better country, one where finish line at the Beirut International Marathon. Tanzania, Jordan, Syria and the Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly differences are tossed aside and (Beirut International Marathon) Palestinian territories travelled to Travel and Society section editor. 2 November 18, 2018 Cover Story Libya Viewpoint Steering the Libyan ship after Palermo the flow of the mostly sub-Saharan migrants in Libya’s southern borders Mohammed and its Mediterranean littoral even A. El Huni when they could see there was no real central government able to hold the country together much less to n the Italian city of Palermo on stem the flow of would-be migrants November 12-13, all thoughts to Europe.
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