Shoukry attends tripartite meeting in Tunisia on Libya

CAIRO – 16 December 2017: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will take part in a tripartite meeting on Libya in the Tunisian capital of Tunis, on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Saturday.

The tripartite meeting frequently convened and organized by foreign ministers from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, is expected to tackle recent developments related to Libya, according to Ahmed Abu Zeid, the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson.

Zeid added that the meeting will resume talks among the three concerned countries following their last meeting in Cairo on November 15, stressing that this meeting will discuss, “political and security” issues related to Libya.

Egypt’s participation in meetings over Libya reflects the country’s support of all means necessary to achieve stability and order in Libya, Zeid said.

Last week, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with Libya’s Chairman of the Presidential Council Fayez al-Sarraj and discussed political accords necessary to preserve Libya’s unity and integrity.


President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi meets with Libya’s Presidential Council Chief Fayez al-Sarraj in Cairo on December 10, 2017- Press Photo

The meeting was attended by high-profile leaders from both sides, namely Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed al-Taher, Libyan Minister of Finance Osama Hammad, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian Minister of Finance Amr el-Garhy, Egypt’s Intelligence Chief Khalid Fawzy and the Egyptian ambassador to Libya.


Libya’s Presidential Council Chief Fayez al-Sarraj meets with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo on December 10, 2017- Press Photo

Egypt’s presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady said that Egypt welcomes the frequent meetings of the Libyan military commanders in Cairo; he also stressed that Egypt confronts foreign proposals aimed at intervening in Libya’s domestic affairs.

“Sisi and Sarraj tackled means of cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism and boosting international endeavors for developing a comprehensive strategy against terrorism,” the statement read.

In December 2015, 22 Libyan parliamentarians signed the Skhirat Agreement, in Morocco, to end the civil war which erupted in Libya in 2014. The Skhirat Agreement was put into practice on April 6, 2016.

The Government of National Accord, led by Fayez al-Sarraj was the first concrete outcome from the Skhirat Agreement. The first meeting of the cabinet of the Government of National Accord took place on January 2, 2016 in Tunis.