Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry asserted, on Wednesday, the need for a ceasefire and political solution in the ongoing Libyan conflict.
Shoukry confirmed the Egyptian position concerning the Libyan crisis during two phone calls with his French and German counterparts Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas respectively.
He pointed out that June’s Cairo Declaration, which complements the Berlin Conference, aims to enhance opportunities to achieve a solution and preserve the integrity of Libyan territories. It would, at the same time, eliminate terrorist groups and militias to achieve security and stability in the region.
Shoukry also said that achieving the desired political solution requires addressing the proliferation of extremist organisations in Libyan territories and external interventions. He emphasised that these elements threaten Egyptian interests, whilst also affecting the security of the Mediterranean region and the international stability in general.
On Tuesday, Shoukry also discussed the Libyan crisis with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. During the bilateral meeting, Egypt’s foreign minister asserted his country’s keenness on winning the support of the Libyan people for the Cairo Declaration, to reach a sustainable settlement. The move would enable the restoration of stability and security, and eliminate terrorism in Libya.
Shoukry expressed Egypt’s total rejection of foreign intervention in Libya, as well as the necessity of stopping the transfer of Syrian mercenaries to the country. He noted that these actions represent a threat to regional stability. Both Shoukry and Lavroc also agreed on further cooperation between the two countries.
