MOSCOW. Dec 3 (Interfax) - Russian diplomats will return to Libya as soon as the Libyan government guarantees their security and creates conditions for the resumption of the Russian Embassy's operations. Moscow also expects Tripoli to compensate for the damage sustained by the Russian diplomatic mission.
"Indeed, we have been formally notified about the preparedness of the Libyan government to guarantee an appropriate level of security for the Russian diplomatic mission and to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of its operations. As soon as that is done, the phased return of our diplomats to Tripoli will begin," Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.
The return of Russian diplomats to Tripoli "is under consideration," she said. "Contacts with the Libyan authorities continue. Naturally, attention is focused on the security of the employees of the Russian diplomatic mission. We cannot risk their life and health," Zakharova stressed.
"The Libyan side will take substantial measures aimed at enhancing the protection of personnel of the Russian Embassy in Tripoli, in line with the commitments it has undertaken," she said. "The Libyan authorities are also due to compensate for the material damage suffered by the Russian diplomatic mission during the attack of militants," Zakharova stressed.