‘Libya neighbors’ reaffirm need to maintain the country’s sovereignty, unity

CAIRO – 31 August 2021: Foreign ministers of Libya's neighboring countries, including Egypt, have stressed the need to maintain Libya’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.

In the final statement of Libya’s neighbors conference, they reaffirmed, Tuesday their full rejection for all forms of foreign interference in Libya’s internal affairs.

The two-day conference was held in Algeria with the participation of the foreign ministers of Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Sudan and Niger as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League, the UN special envoy to Libya and the African Union Commissioner for security, peace and political affairs.

They also agreed on sticking to the conclusions of Berlin conferences, condemning the ongoing smuggling of weapons and sending mercenaries to armed organizations in the Arab country.

The ministers praised efforts exerted by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who received them, to reach a political solution for the crisis in Libya and restore peace, security and stability to the Arab country.

For his part, Tebboune urged the participants to keep exerting efforts and increasing coordination and cooperation to render the political process a success in Libya.

The ministers also underlined the need to coordinate between the 5+5 military committee and Libya’s neighbors on the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces from the Arab country.

They also urged to enhance coordination among the United Nations, African Union, Arab League and the European Union to work closely with Libya’s neighbors to reach a comprehensive solution for the crisis in Libya

The minsters urged to achieve a credible and comprehensive national reconciliation in light of the great efforts exerted by the African Union and the neighboring countries.

They welcomed steps that will be soon taken by the AU and the African Union Commission to pave the way to hold a conference for national reconciliation among Libyan factions in coordination with the neighboring countries.

The ministers emphasized the necessity to put the priorities of the roadmap into effect, calling for the withdrawal of foreign fighters, troops and mercenaries from Libyan territories and ensuring the security of Libyan borders with the neighboring countries.

They also decided to send a ministerial delegation to Libya to contact all Libyan factions and reach a political solution for the crisis of the Arab country.

Foreign ministers of Libya's neighboring countries have welcomed Egypt’s proposal on hosting the next edition of Libya’s neighbors conference. The date of the conference to be announced later.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Monday boosting bilateral cooperation frameworks with his Libyan counterpart, Najla Al-Mangoush as they met in Algeria on the sidelines of foreign ministers of Libya’s neighboring countries meeting held in Algeria.

Shoukry’s meeting with Mangoush addressed coordination with the aim of building on the outcome of the Libya neighbours’ meeting to reach comprehensive political settlement to the Libyan crisis, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry read.

Shoukry on Monday urged accelerating efforts to take all the measures required within the framework of readiness for the Libyan elections scheduled for 24 December.