Putin will not be able to take part in Palermo conference on Libya, says Kremlin

MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be able to participate in an international conference on Libya in Italy’s Palermo but Russia will be represented appropriately, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

“The president will most likely be unable to accept the invitation to visit Palermo but Russia will be appropriately represented there,” he said.

On October 12-13, Palermo will host a high-level international conference on resolving the Libyan crisis.

There currently are two governments in Libya – the Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, which is based in the city of Tripoli, and a cabinet based in the country’s east, which has the support of the Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The parties have so far been unable to resolve the crisis based on a political agreement.