Geography of Africa

By George Gilson

In a resounding response to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to bar Greece from the 19 January Libya peace conference, Libya National Army leader General Khalifa Haftar arrived in Athens for talks with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis just two days before the conference.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed his intention to veto a solution on the Libya crisis at the Cοuncil of Foreign Ministers and the summit of leaders if the Libya-Turkey maritime border deal is not scrapped.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (2nd from r) holds talks with Morocco's Parliament Speaker Habib El Malki (l) in Rabat on Wednesday during his tour of Maghreb countries to discuss the Libya crisis and regional issues. He also met with his counterpart Nasser Bourita.

This is a very difficult period for the country's foreign policy. It is therefore useful that we keep a few basic things in mind.
First, we should not react in an erratic manner, celebrating on one day because "the eastern Libyan forces of Khalifa Haftar are about to make their way into Tripoli" and grieving the next because "Erdogan is playing on a whole other level."

Turkey's involvement in Libya's domestic affairs is a "serious source of concern" for the countries in the region, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on Wednesday, during a visit to Morocco.

The summit that will be held in Berlin this Sunday to try to find a path to peace for Libya will not discuss a contentious deal signed between Turkey and Libya on maritime borders, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday, responding to a question on why Greece was not invited to the conference, despite its request to participate.

About 1,000 migrants have been returned to Libya in the past two weeks, according to a statement issued by The UN Migration Agency (IOM), quoted by the DPA.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will meet with officials from the Moroccan government in the capital city of Rabat on Wednesday.
Dendias will be meeting with his counterpart, Nasser Bourita, with the President of the House of Representatives, Habib El Malki, and with the President of the Moroccan government Saad Eddine El Othmani.

Greece has asked to attend a summit in Berlin which will discuss a path to peace in Libya, government spokesman Stelios Petsas revealed on Tuesday.

The news came a regular press briefing, when Petsas was asked about Greece's "absence" from any diplomatic initiatives concerning the crisis in Libya.

Greece has asked to attend a summit in Berlin which will discuss a path to peace in Libya, government spokesman Stelios Petsas revealed on Tuesday.

The news came a regular press briefing, when Petsas was asked about Greece's "absence" from any diplomatic initiatives concerning the crisis in Libya.