Egypt’s FM Shoukry discuss Libya’s latest updates with Russian counterpart

CAIRO – 21 July 2020: Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov the latest updates regarding the MENA region and especially in Libya.

According to Sky News Arabia, both officials stressed on the necessity of resolving the Libyan crisis through negotiations with the participation of all Libyan parties, in line with the outputs of the Berlin Conference and the relevant international resolutions.

In a closed session Monday, The Egyptian House of Representatives has authorized President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to “take necessary measures” to protect national security, giving a green light for the president to send troops to Libya.

The session was attended only by the Parliament members and the general secretariat of the House.

The decision came few days after President Sisi met with sheikhs, notables, and mayors of the Libyan tribes, and His Excellency Speaker of the House of Representatives Aquila Saleh made a speech at the Egyptian Parliament.

“The decision of the Egyptian Parliament came in support of our brothers in Libya in order to move forward to protect the security of Libya, Egypt and the region against the Turkish colonial ambitions that aim to plunder the region’s wealth and to sow chaos, ruin and instability,” read the parliament’s statement.

It further added that Egypt’s intervention will “contribute to achieving security and stability, and thwarting the militia and chaos supported by Turkey and others.”

“Egypt has been and will always be the beating heart of the Arab world,” added the statement.

The Libyan House of Representatives hailed the decision made by the Egyptian Parliament to approve sending troops to Libya, describing it as a “courageous stance.

“We salute the Egyptian people, His Excellency President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and the Egyptian Council of Representatives presidency and members on the courageous stance that embodies the depth of brotherly relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples and embodies Arab solidarity,” said a press statement issued by the Libyan Parliament.