Maj.Gen Khalifa Haftar exclusively to Echorouk: “Egypt is supporting us militarily”

-Some parties speak about the return of Khalifa Haftar for revenge and to show strength .. What is your response?

*The issue is not revenge, but the truth is that when we were refugees outside the country, our aim was to stop injustice, because we had no opportunity at home, so we prepared ourselves outside and we contacted our colleagues at home, which is why when we have not had real chance in 93 and 94, many of my colleagues and companions and relatives were arrested, and tried at that time with harsh and unjust provisions, as some of them were sentenced to prison, and some others were sentenced to death, and I was one of them.

When given the opportunity again to create a popular move, especially as I was talking through the channel “Al Houraa” in America, people were demanding my presence and I immediately came to Libya and at the same time I attended and participated with all my efforts, and thanks to Allah, we have achieved the desired aim through overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi.

In fact, we did not want him to end up this way because he was a colleague to me, but I wanted him to tell the truth to the people who supported him over more than 40 years, but mostly tasted the bitterness in that period, so we did our duty and we expected to turn to Libya after the promise of Muammar Kaddafi to develop Libya.

But unfortunately, ruling groups were not taken into account at all, and people did not know them at all, which are the groups that claim Islam, and took the people to dangerous positions, through organizing gangs which looted, raped and killed, and no one expected things will reach Libya’s destruction, as revolutions are measured by their results, and as a result of February 17, despite bloodshed, it was a negative result.

-Why do some people resemble Major General Khalifa Haftar to Egyptian President al-Sisi, who turned against the former regime?

*In reality, al-Sisi is not a defect, he is a man who loves his country, and did his duty. We believe that the Islamic groups that ruled did nothing for the interest of their people, and therefore, he has as a military man whose mission is to stand by the people, stood as a brave man, and did his duty, which is required by every soldier in the army.

-So what is the interest of Egypt to stand by you, especially since your name is largely included in its security file?

 

 *I think that this question should be directed to them, though I’m happy because they stand by me, why not? First, because they are my neighbors and we share a common language and religion, and all social ties, more than any other neighboring country, so why do they criticize them because they stand by us? But no one puts his foot in my country Libya, whether Arab or other countries .. Absolutely no one.

-If we asked you about what is happening today in Libya .. Is it a process of splitting into small states?

*I can not express my political way in this aspect, but Libya is one unit, and our tasks as armed troops is protecting the unity of the country. we will not allow anyone to devise it whatever the circumstances. We know that there are external interests and there are ambitions that support division, but they remain a very small group, which does not have a strong correlation with homeland. Because in this country we will never allow the division as long as there men of “dignity” whose number is growing every day, and people does not allow this division. I can not imagine one day I’ll be on the east side and I’ll be forced to take a passport to go to the west or to the south .. This talk is prohibited.