After Turkey, Libya refuses to attend Paris conference because of Israel’s attendance

The interim government of Libya, National Unity Government (GNU), has said it will not attend the Nov. 12 Paris conference on the oil-rich North African country, should Israel be part of the summit, Libya Observer reports.

 

 

“The government is steadfast in its position and the position of all Libyans and is committed to the Palestinian cause,” said GNU spokesman Mohamed Hammouda.

 

Hammouda whowever stressed that it is not yet clear if Israel did receive an invitation to attend the event, but if confirmed, the Libyan government would not participate in the conference.

The GNU’s condition for participation in the summit follows that of Turkey. Early this week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated that he told his French counterpart that Ankara will not send officials for the conference if Greece, Israel, and the Greek Cypriot administration are in attendance.

“If these countries are to attend the conference, then there is no need for us to send special representatives,” Erdogan told journalists on his return from the G-20 summit in Rome.

French top diplomat Jean-Yves Le Drian has invited Libyan authorities to attend the gathering that seeks to provide support for the Libyan presidential elections scheduled to take place on Dec. 24.