Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi renewed his call for the removal of foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, stressing the need to ensure the unity of Libyan national institutions.
El-Sisi discussed with Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, and Aqila Saleh, speaker of the House of Representatives, ways to restore security and stability in Libya, and to preserve its sovereignty and unity.
El-Sisi received Libyan officials in Cairo in the presence of Abbas Kamel, head of the Egyptian General Intelligence.
Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said: “The meeting discussed the latest developments in the Libyan arena in light of the special relations that link Egypt with Libya and its brotherly people, and the well-established Egyptian policy of considering Libya’s stability on the political and security levels as part of Egypt’s stability.”
Rady added that the meeting reviewed prospects for Egyptian-Libyan cooperation and coordination.
El-Sisi said Cairo will continue its efforts at “preventing external interference that aims to implement its own agendas at the expense of the Libyan people, as well as the expulsion of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libyan territory.”
Haftar and Saleh affirmed that their positions are consistent with Egypt’s perspective on managing Libya’s transitional phase, especially with regard to ensuring the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections before the end of the year.
They said the removal of foreign forces from Libya would enable security institutions to carry out their responsibilities and tasks, which would contribute to restoring security and stability in all parts of the country.
