Egypt’s Sisi welcomes Libyan leaders’ cease-fire initiative

CAIRO- 21 August 2020: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed the cease-fire initiative that has been declared by Libyan Speaker of the House of Representatives Agila Saleh and head of the Presidency Council Fayez Al-Sarraj on Friday, as a way for the departure of all mercenaries in Libya.

“I welcome the statements issued by the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives in Libya to cease fire and stop the military operations in all Libyan territories, as it represents an important step to achieve a political settlement and meet the aspirations of the Libyan people to restore stability and prosperity in Libya and to preserve the capabilities of its people,” President Sisi tweeted on Friday.

ارحب بالبيانات الصادرة عن المجلس الرئاسى ومجلس النواب فى ليبيا بوقف اطلاق النار ووقف العمليات العسكرية فى كافة الأراضي الليبية باعتبار ذلك خطوة هامة على طريق تحقيق التسوية السياسية وطموحات الشعب الليبى فى استعادة الاستقرار والازدهار فى ليبيا وحفظ مقدرات شعبها

— Abdelfattah Elsisi (@AlsisiOfficial) August 21, 2020

Both Libyan leaders called for demilitarize the oil-rich area of Jafa-Sirte. The Libyan government, headed by Sarraj, called for holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections in March, Al-Arabiya reported.

 Agila said that they are looking forward to making Sirte a temporary headquarters for the coming new presidential council.

Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General (ASRSG) for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Stephanie Williams also welcomed the initiative.

Acting SRSG Williams warmly welcomes points of agreement in today’s declarations by PM Serraj and Speaker Aguila, calling for a ceasefire and the resumption of the political process https://t.co/E6UJPFsEfm pic.twitter.com/but5lKw3GX

— UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) August 21, 2020