Egyptian emphasis on the necessity of mercenaries leaving Libya

Hassan Al-Warfalli (Benghazi)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s firm position in support of the Libyan solution, indicating that Cairo will continue its efforts to bring viewpoints closer between the Libyan brothers.
Shoukry affirmed Cairo’s support for the role of institutions and the dialogue hosted by the League of Arab States between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, the President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed El Menfi, and the Head of the State Council, Mohamed Takala, with the aim of reaching an understanding regarding holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously, as soon as possible. Under the supervision of a unified government.
This came during Minister Sameh Shukri’s meeting with Musa Al-Koni, Vice President of the Libyan Presidential Council, on the sidelines of the activities of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit currently being held in the Gambian capital, Banjul.
During the meeting, Shukri stressed the need to continue the diligent pursuit of dissolving the armed militias, and the exit of all foreign forces, mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya within a specific time frame, in implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the outcomes of the Paris and Berlin tracks, according to what was reported by the media office of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. .
Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid also explained that Shukri stressed Egypt’s keenness to support the Libyan Presidential Council and preserve its unity and cohesion, within the framework of the extended historical relations between the two brotherly countries.
For his part, Al-Koni stressed the depth of the roots and the close ties that bring together both Egypt and Libya, praising the constructive Egyptian efforts that support the stability of Libya, and praising the pivotal role that Cairo plays in resolving the Libyan crisis, which reflects the Egyptian keenness to provide all forms of support to the Libyan side.
In another context, the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, yesterday called on the European Union to make more efforts to support the political process in order to hold presidential and legislative elections and reach a stage of permanent stability. This came during his meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Libya, Nicola Orlando, in Benghazi. The Libyan Army Command confirmed that the two sides discussed the latest local and regional developments, while Ambassador Orlando praised the role of the Libyan Armed Forces in maintaining security and stability, stressing the importance of their prominent role in reducing illegal immigration.