Libya says interested in military-technical cooperation with Russia

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. Libya is interested in military and technical cooperation with Russia, Mohamed Abdelaziz, special envoy of Libya’s Council of Deputies chairman, said on Thursday. "Our cooperation in military and technical sphere is a historic partnership existing for nearly 40 years," Abdelaziz, currently on a visit to Moscow, said. "We hope it will be continued." "We want assistance in preparing and training Libyan nationals, and we need modern weapons to create a modern army," he said, noting difficulties with importing weaponry from Russia connected with some resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. "This issue should be settled with international institutions first," the envoy said, adding that all those matters could be discussed after formation of a national government. "Military partnership with Russia is very important for Libya," he stressed. Abdelaziz said the main goal of his visit to Moscow was "his willingness to draw attention of the Russian side to developments in Libya." "The country is in a very difficult situation. There are a great number of extremist groups," he said. "We need international help, and this refers first of all to protection of oil deposits and airports." The envoy also expressed hope for Russian support in U.N.-backed negotiations on the situation in Libya, scheduled for March. Read more