Libya's LNA: GNA-Qatar Military Agreement Undermines Geneva Outcomes

On Monday, the Libyan National Army (LNA) described the signing of the security cooperation agreement signed today between the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Qatar, as a malicious attempt to undermine the ceasefire agreement outcomes agreed upon by Libyan rival delegations in Geneva.

In a statement, the LNA official spokesman, Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari said, "What Qatar has done is a violation of the outcomes of the 5 + 5 Geneva Dialogue."

Al-Mismari added that the  agreement is a malicious attempt to undermine the ceasefire agreement that calls for stopping escalation and ending destructive foreign interference in Libyan affairs.

The LNA`s remarks came hours after GNA announced that it had signed a security cooperation agreement with Qatar, following the visit of its officials to Doha and their meeting with Qatari officials.

The GNA's Interior Ministry signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding with its Qatari counterpart, on cooperation in the fields of combating terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering.

Observers believe that the security agreement between the GNA and Qatar is a clear violation of the Ceasefire Geneva Agreement that stipulated the suspension of all military agreements that the two Libyan parties concluded with their foreign backers until a unified government takes over.

The signing of the MoU came during a visit by the GNA's Minister of Interior, Fathi Bashagha, to Doha, along with the GNA's Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Sayala, to hold talks with the Qatari Emir, Tamim bin Hamad.