Libyan parties meet in Cairo, support LNA efforts to fight terrorism

CAIRO - 17 June 2019: Cairo hosted on Monday a meeting attended by Libyan national figures, politicians and tribal leaders who discussed the latest efforts by the Libyan National Army (LNA) to fight terrorism, to restore stability in the country and preserve its unity.

The meeting aims at asserting the role of Libya's national powers in preserving the state, putting an end to the control of terrorists and extremists of Tripoli, restoring the state's stability and maintaining its sovereignty.

“We came to Cairo to stress that all Libyans are standing behind LNA efforts in Tripoli,” said Secretary-General of the Libyan National People’s Movement Mustafa al-Zaeidy, ensuring that all participants in the conference stand with LNA efforts to preserve the country’s stability. He explained that Libya is facing ‘conspiracy,’ adding that there were several attempts to dis-empower the army.


Libya's national forces meeting in Cairo on Monday, June 17 - Press Photo

He explained that civilians in Libya are suffering more than anyone as a result of the ongoing war.

For his part, LNA’s Colonel Belaid el-Sheikhi stated that Muslim Brotherhood’s role is ‘gone forever’ in Libya, adding that parties and countries known for their support of terrorist movements will be hindered from playing any role in the country, namely: Qatar and Turkey.

Idres al-Darsi, one of the tribal elders, said that Libyans refuse both of the United Nations envoy Ghassan Salame and Head of the Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj Initiatives that seek to ‘reproduce terrorism’ in Libya again.

He referred to the current battle, led by Commander Khalifa Haftar, in the capital, saying that it earned its legitimacy from the Libyan parliament and from the people supporting for the armed forces efforts.

Egypt has been playing a key role to preserve Libya’s stability and security. Cairo hosted several meeting for unifying the Libyan army and to reach political solution.

On Thursday, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received a phone call from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, as they discussed number of regional files especially the situation in Libya.

President Sisi asserted Egypt's firm stance supportive of the unity, stability and security of Libya and activating the will of its people.

The Egyptian president also reiterated Egypt's support to the Libyan national army in its fight against terrorism and eradication of armed militias and organizations which have become a rising threat to the regional security and the Mediterranean Sea region.

On April 4, LNA led by Commander Haftar launched an offensive against Tripoli claiming that they will "liberate the capital" from terrorist groups. The international community have been urging all parties in Libya to halt violence and go back to the negotiation table.