Forming agreed gov’t, dismantling militias ways to end Libyan crisis: Egyptian FM

CAIRO – 8 July 2020: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt supports the political dialogue to resolve the Libyan crisis, in accordance with the Cairo Declaration on Libya Egyptian President has announced in June.

In a video conference for the United Nations Security Council on Libya, Shoukry affirmed that the Cairo Declaration is completely consistent with relevant Security Council’s resolutions and the Berlin Conference’s outcomes.

He affirmed that stability in Libya can be achieved by forming a government and a parliament that all Libyans agree on, ending the presence of militias, countering terrorism, unifying army and the distribution of the country’s wealth.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has earlier highlighted the importance of applying unconditional ceasefire, stopping military and hostile movements in the country, and reaching a Libyan solution, Shoukry added.

 

Earlier, Sisi announced Cairo's plan for a ceasefire in Libya, beginning June 8, after a tripartite meeting with the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and Speaker of Libyan Parliament Aqela Saleh on Saturday.

Sisi said that the political initiative, which he called the “Cairo Initiative” would pave the way for a return to normal life in Libya. President Sisi warned against using military tactics to resolve the crisis.

A political solution is the only way to resolve the crisis in Libya, Sisi said, adding that Libya's security is a pillar for Egypt's security.

All Libyan parties have been asked to partake in the ceasefire, Sisi said, adding that LNA Chief Haftar and the eastern parliament head Aguila Saleh are committed to protecting the Libyan people’s best interests.

Under the guidelines of the ceasefire, all foreign fighters must withdraw from Libya, he added.

For his part, Field Marshal Haftar said that the Turkish intervention in the Libyan conflict reinforced the aggravation of the situation in Libya and threatens stability.

Haftar pointed out that the whole world is witnessing Turkey's support for terrorism and the transfer of terrorist elements from one place to another in the Middle East and North Africa, which further complicates the solution to the Libyan crisis. Haftar emphasized Libya's unity and territorial integrity and the elimination of terrorist groups classified by Security Council resolutions, as well as calling for a Libyan dialogue immediately with the participation of all segments of the people.

For his part, the Libyan Speaker of Parliament said that the Libyan National Army (LNA) abided by the humanitarian truce, but the Al-Wefaq government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj did not abide by it.

Saleh stressed that when the army moved to Tripoli, it was aimed at fighting terrorists, not targeting civilians.