ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates continues to “work for an immediate ceasefire and return to a political process” in Libya, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said on Monday.

“The UAE, alongside its partners, wants to see a return to oil production in Libya as soon as possible, with safeguards in place to prevent the proceeds fueling further conflict. We continue to work for an immediate ceasefire and return to a political process,” the minister wrote on his official Twitter page.

His statement comes as the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu rejected a ceasefire in Libya on Monday.

Agreeing to a ceasefire would be dependent on the withdrawal of the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by commander Khalifa Haftar, Cavusoglu had said.

On Sunday, Cavusoglu made similar comments to the UK newspaper the Financial Times. He told the FT that there is a “determination” among GNA officials to resume its offensive against the LNA if it does not retreat from the strategic positions in central Libya.

He also hinted that Turkey could support a GNA offensive, saying that Ankara considers the GNA’s “preconditions” for the ceasefire “legitimate and reasonable,” according to the FT.

Libya has been mired in conflict since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, but since 2019, fighting between the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar and the GNA has escalated as foreign involvement has intensified. — Agencies