Egypt's FM meets vice president of Libya's presidential council

CAIRO - 2 October 2021: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a meeting on Saturday with Vice President of the Presidential Council of Libya Abdullah Al-Lafi and his accompanying delegation, currently visiting Egypt.

The meeting came as part of the supportive role played by Egypt towards Libya at this critical time to restore the country's stability, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said.

On 30 Sep., Shoukry recommended that the meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on Libya held on Thursday agree on the need for unconditional, simultaneous and coordinated exit of foreign forces, mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya without exceptions.

This should come in line with the relevant international resolutions and through supporting the mission of the 5+5 joint military committee in this regard, Shoukry said as he delivered a recorded speech to a virtual meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on Libya.

Shoukry said Egypt has warned against the implications of the armed conflict in Libya and affirmed it may take the necessary procedures to protect its national security.

The Egyptian position has had an obvious effect on all parties to prevent de-escalation and engage seriously in the political process sponsored by the United Nations until a ceasefire was reached in October 2020 that is still valid, Shoukry said.

Also, international resolutions were issued aiming to help Libya end its crisis while putting a radical solution to the foreign presence on the Libyan territories through the exit of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without procrastination or exceptions, according to the UN Security Council’s Resolution no. 2570.

“However, the international community has not taken any decisive procedures to put an end to the presence of foreign forces and mercenaries in Libya, a matter that requires concerned efforts of the attendees today to form a strong unified stance in support of the national role of the joint military committee 5+5 in this mission,” Shoukry said.

Shoukry also highlighted the importance of urging the international community to assume its role in bringing the parties seeking to circumvent Resolution no. 2570 and the outcomes of the Berlin 2 conference regarding the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries back to their responsibilities.

“The continued foreign military presence in Libya in all its forms provides an unstable environment incubating terrorism and extremism, allowing the movement of terrorist elements in the region,” Shoukry said.

In this regard, Shoukry said Thursday’s meeting should agree on urging countries that sent fighters and mercenaries to other parts to withdraw them and punishing those backing mercenaries and those facilitating their movement between different countries.