Sisi, Mitsotakis discuss Libya’s developments, joint interests in East Mediterranean region

CAIRO – 23 July 2020: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi discussed the Libyan crises updates with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a phone call Thursday, as he explained the Egyptian stance of refusing all illegal foreign interference in the war-torn country.

Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said in a press statement that Sisi explained the destabilizing effect of such foreign interference in Libya that would worsen the security situation in the entire region.

For his part, Mitsotakis praised Egypt’s great efforts that aim to settle the dispute and restore peace in all Libyan territories, asserting the necessity to reach a political solution for this crisis.

Both officials discussed ways to enhance the process of joint cooperation, whether at the bilateral level or within the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece.

Sisi and Mitsotakis agreed on the consistency of common interests between the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and that East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) represents one of the most important tools in this framework, which would open prospects for cooperation between the countries of the region in the field of energy and gas.

Last May, Sisi received phone call from Mitsotakis in which they discussed issues of common concern, especially developments in the Libyan situation.

They discussed ways to develop efforts to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic and ease its medical, economic, and social impacts. During the call, Sisi and Mitsotakis shared similar views as regards their countries’ stances and interests in the Middle East region along with asserting the significance of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF).

The spokesman added that the phone call tackled the latest updates of the Libyan crisis, with both sides affirming the rejection of foreign interference that makes the issue more complicated and eventually services the interests of the foreign parties at the expense of Libyan people's rights, will, and interests.