Libya

Moscow is hosting a series of negotiations on Jan. 12 to find a solution to the Libya crisis.

The top diplomats and defense chiefs of Russia and Turkey gathered in the Russian capital to assist the talks between Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of Libya's U.N.-recognized government in Tripoli, and Khalifa Haftar, eastern Libya-based military commander.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received the head of Libya's U.N.-recognized government in Istanbul, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Jan. 12

The closed-door meeting between Erdoğan and Fayez al-Sarraj is underway at the Dolmabahçe Palace.     

The leaders of Turkey and Russia held a telephone conversation on Jan. 11 to discuss regional issues, including Libya, according to diplomatic sources.

Turkey expects Russia to convince Libya's renegade general Khalifa Haftar for a cease-fire, the country's foreign minister said on Jan. 11.

Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said on Jan. 10 it killed 20 fighters of rival Gen. Khalifa Haftar in airstrikes as fresh clashes hit southern Tripoli.

GNA military spokesman Mohammed Kanunu said the strikes also destroyed two armored vehicles belonging to the United Arab Emirates.

Gen. Khalifa Haftar, who commands armed militia based in eastern Libya, rejected a truce on Jan. 9 encouraged by Russia and Turkey, according to militia spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will be traveling to Brussels on Friday to attend an emergency meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council, called to discuss the crisis with Iran and developments in Libya.

Ankara denounced a recent meeting on Jan. 9 held between Greece, France, the Greek Cypriot administration, Egypt and Italy against a recent maritime delimitation deal between Turkey and Libya.

France, Greece, Egypt and Greek Cyprus on Jan. 8 declared "null and void" agreements between Ankara and Libya assigning Turkey rights over a vast area of the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish and Greek diplomats will hold their first regular political consultations following a dispute over Turkey's maritime delimitation deal with Libya.