NEWS

Greece, Russia seek solution for Libya

Greek and Russian government officials have been in telephone contact with their counterparts in Libya in a bid to enforce a ceasefire in the strife-torn country, Libya?s official Jana news agency said on Saturday.

Prime Minister George Papandreou talked with his Libyan counterpart Al Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi by telephone, Jana reported. Al-Mahmoudi ?reiterated Libya?s commitment to United Nations resolutions? and said Libya is committed to the African Union?s peace initiative, the news agency said. Reuters cited a Greek government source as confirming the conversation. ?The Greek prime minister reiterated to his Libyan counterpart that Libya must comply with UN resolutions,? the source was quoted as saying.

Efforts are being made by Russian officials to monitor the enforcement of a ceasefire.

Jana reported on Saturday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told al-Mahmoudi by telephone that Moscow could send observers to monitor a ceasefire. ?Russia stands by the Libyan people,? Jana quoted Lavrov as saying.

On Friday, the Kremlin said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Papandreou spoke by telephone about the Libyan conflict. The two men were ready ?to provide any necessary mediation help in order to settle the situation in Libya,? Russia?s Interfax agency said.

Earlier this month, Abdelati Obeidi, a former Libyan prime minister who is now the acting foreign minister, flew to Athens to meet Papandreou. There had been speculation about him bringing a message to Papandreou from Colonel Muammar Gadhafi, who had close ties with Papandreou?s late father Andreas. But officials said the envoy merely expressed the will for a solution.

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