President of Presidency Council Meets Russian Delegation Led by Deputy Foreign Minister.

Tripoli, 26 April 2017(Lana) The President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord Fayez Al Serraj on Tuesday met at the Council's headquarters here the Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bugdanov the personal envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bugdanov is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation including Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Chairman of Russian-Libyan Business Council and the Russian Ambassador. The meeting was attended, on the Libyan side, by the Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala, the Commander of Presidential Guard Nejmi Al Nakoo as well as several officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Presidency Council. Bugdanov said his visit to Libya which he said came after the successful visit which Al Serraj made to Moscow, aims to put in place a mechanism for implementing what had been agreed during Al Serraj's visit.' Bogdanov reaffirmed Russia's keenness to resolve the Libyan crisis. 'We promised your Excellency a return of Russian-Libyan relations to previous level and we will deliver, the Russian official said. On his part Al Serraj highlighted the close relationship linking the peoples in Libya and Russia. He welcomed a return of Russian companies and investments to Libya, and said Libya could benefit from Russian expertise in the security and other areas. He voiced hope that Russia would use its good offices to help lift the arms embargo imposed on Libya. The weapons will be used to fight terrorism, organized crime and trafficking, he said. Our narrative does not call for escalation or war, Al Serraj said, demanding that Russia intervene with conflict parties in Libya with which it has links to stop escalation in the southern Libya. The two sides agreed on executive measures to launch economic cooperation and facilitate return of Russian companies to work in Libya. =Lana=