Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Moscow on Jan. 11, 2020. (Kremlin photo)
"We believe that Germany's initiative to hold an international conference on Libya in Berlin is timely," Putin said.
MOSCOW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russia supports Germany's initiative to hold an international conference on Libya in Berlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday during a press conference after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We believe that Germany's initiative to hold an international conference on Libya in Berlin is timely," Putin said, according to a transcript released by the Kremlin.
"It is necessary to ensure that the participating countries are really interested in initiating a peaceful settlement of the conflict," the president said.
"Above all, its decisions should be negotiated in a preliminary plan with the Libyan parties," he added.
According to Merkel, the conference would be realized under the leadership of the United Nations.
"The Libyan people should have the opportunity to live in a sovereign country," she said.
The chancellor added that the meeting held on Wednesday between Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was very productive.
"We hope that the efforts of the Russian and Turkish sides will succeed," she said.
On Wednesday, Putin and Erdogan agreed on a common stance on Libya and urged to establish a ceasefire in Libya starting midnight on Jan. 12.
Libya has been locked in a civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Several armed militias of different backgrounds have emerged, and have been fighting each other to take power, although a peace deal was signed by the warring parties on Dec. 17, 2015 in the Moroccan city of Skhirat. ■
