US amb. to Libya says political process in Libya witnesses progress

CAIRO - 23 November 2021: US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland asserted that the political process in Libya witnesses a progress, asserting that his country supports conducting the elections without any elimination.

Norland said that the US is working on guaranteeing the safety of the elections in Libya.

The main task of the government of national unity is to pave the way for conducting successful elections, he said, asserting that the important role of national unity government.

On Nov. 10, Samuel Warburg, the Regional Spokesman for the US State Department, said the US fully supports Egypt regarding the need for the withdrawal of mercenaries from Libya.

In remarks to Hadith Al-Qahera TV program on Al-Qahera Wal Nas, Warburg said Egypt and the US agree on the need to support Libyan people.

This comes following the Egypt-US strategic dialogue held in Washington, D.C. on Monday and Tuesday with the participation of Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Warburg said Egypt and the US maintain strong strategic relations, affirming that the US considers Egypt an important partner in the region regarding all files.

The spokesman also highlighted the importance of the restoration of the US-Egypt strategic dialogue, which was held this week for the first since 2015.

Concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) file, Warburg affirmed the US readiness to support the efforts made by Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resolve the crisis.

The US reiterated President Joe Biden’s support to Egypt’s water security, a joint statement by Cairo and Washington read on Tuesday, as both sides discussed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) file.

This comes following the Egypt-US strategic dialogue held in Washington, D.C. on Monday and Tuesday.

“The United States and Egypt called for the resumption of negotiations over an agreement on the GERD under the auspices of the Chairperson of the African Union, in line with the Presidential Statement of the United Nations Security Council of September 15, 2021, and the 2015 Agreement on Declaration of Principles,” the statement added.

During the dialogue, they discussed a number of issues including the Libyan crisis, Sudan, and the humanitarian crises in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

The two countries called for holding Libya’s elections, as scheduled, on December 24, and agreed on backing the action plan of the Libyan [5+5] Joint Military Commission regarding the exit of all foreign forces, fighters, and mercenaries from the Arab country.

The two sides agreed to continue high-level consultations on Middle East and African issues as they discussed efforts to resolve regional conflicts and humanitarian crises in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

The US also hailed Egypt’s leadership’s efforts to mediate solutions to regional conflicts, especially regarding the promotion of peace and ending violence in the Gaza Strip.

The two countries agreed on their commitment to expand their bilateral cooperation regarding economy, commerce, climate, defense, counterterrorism, border and maritime security.

They also agreed on boosting diplomatic and consular cooperation, educational and cultural cooperation, as well as judicial and law-enforcement cooperation to combat transnational crime.

This comes through “sharing, as appropriate and consistent with international legal standards, evidence and information used to investigate and prosecute these crimes,” according to the statement.

Egypt and the US also signed an MOU to facilitate and boost cooperation under the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, which they signed and entered into force in 2001.

“The United States and Egypt reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to the national security of both countries and to the stability of the Middle East,” the statement read.

Egypt hailed the role played by the US in economic development in Egypt and its supply of defense equipment to the country, as well as the joint cooperation to reinforce Egypt’s defense capabilities.