CAIRO – 21 August 2020: Libya witnessed, Friday, huge ‘positive development’ regarding its political situation as both of the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives issued statements to announce cease fire and stopping all military operations in all Libyan territories.
The announcement was welcomed by several countries including Egypt’s president Abdel Fatah al Sisi, who welcomed the cease-fire initiative that has been declared by Libyan Speaker of the House of Representatives Agila Saleh and head of the Presidency Council Fayez Al-Sarraj , as a way for the departure of all mercenaries in Libya.
“I welcome the statements issued by the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives in Libya to cease fire and stop the military operations in all Libyan territories, as it represents an important step to achieve a political settlement and meet the aspirations of the Libyan people to restore stability and prosperity in Libya and to preserve the capabilities of its people,” President Sisi tweeted on Friday.
Egypt's Sisi welcomes Libyan leaders' cease-fire initiative
CAIRO- 21 August 2020: Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed the cease-fire initiative that has been declared by Libyan Speaker of the House of Representatives Agila Saleh and head of the Presidency Council Fayez Al-Sarraj on Friday, as a way for the departure of all mercenaries in Libya.
Both Libyan leaders called for demilitarize the oil-rich area of Jafa-Sirte. The Libyan government, headed by Sarraj, called for holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections in March, Al-Arabiya reported.
Agila said that they are looking forward to making Sirte a temporary headquarters for the coming new presidential council.
International welcome
Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General (ASRSG) for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Stephanie Williams also welcomed the initiative.
Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates as well welcomed the announced ceasefire in statements.
A Friday official statement said that Tunisia welcomes Libya’s ceasefire, adding that the move considers positive step that will lead to a Libyan-Libyan solution that will stop blood shedding, restore confidence and stability in the country.
UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash also hailed the move on twitter saying that the solution in Libya will only be political.
“The ceasefire declaration in Libya is a very positive development, we believe that the solution in Libya should be political, through dialogue and framed by agreed international and regional references”: Gargash said.
إعلان وقف إطلاق النار ووقف العمليات العسكرية في كافة الأراضي الليبية تطّور إيجابي للغاية، آن أوان سكوت المدافع فالحّل في ليبيا الشقيقة سياسي بإمتياز وعبر الحوار الجامع والذي تؤطره المرجعيات الدولية والإقليمية المتفق عليها.
— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) August 21, 2020
The Arab League has welcomed the cease-fire initiative that has been declared by Agila Saleh and -Sarraj as a step for the departure of all mercenaries in Libya.
Italy also welcomed the initiative as a statement by the Italian Foreign Ministry expressed its hope that the recent developments regarding the resumption of oil production in Libya will witness concrete implementation on the ground.
The statement further indicated that the recent developments resulting from the statements of the Presidential Council and the House of Representatives represent a bold and important step towards the stability of Libya.
Italy stressed its support for "continuous and effective efforts of the United Nations within the framework of the Berlin process with its main partners in the European Union."
Turkey’s stance
Commenting on the Libyan development, turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, that his country dose not to enter into any confrontation with any country in Libya.
He added in statements that Ankara believes Egypt can play a constructive role in Libya, and that his country does not prefer any military solution regarding the Libyan situation. Kalin welcomed the announced ceasefire.
A newly created twitter account, alleged to belong to the Head of the Tripoli-based government Fayez al-Sarraj published a tweet, Friday, thanking President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for his efforts to reach peace in Libya.
In his tweet, Sarraj thanked Egypt and all countries that welcomed the ceasefire that aims at reaching security, peace and stability in Libya.
Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh also hailed Egypt’s Sisi’s “brave” stance after a comprehensive ceasefire was announced by conflicting parties in Libya.
Saleh praised Sisi’s efforts that he said aim at achieving stability in Libya.
Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj announced a ceasefire nationwide. His Interior Minister told Bloomberg that the ceasefire could only happen with support from Egypt, US and Turkey.
“It must be followed by a serious political dialogue that leads to a settlement,” Fathi Bashaga, Interior Minister at the government of Sarraj added. “Those steps must be taken quickly.”
Libyan Interior Min. says Egypt's support contributed to reaching ceasefire
CAIRO - 21 August 2020: As Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj announced a ceasefire nationwide, his Interior Minister told Bloomberg that the ceasefire could only happen with support from Egypt, US and Turkey.
Hundreds of people have been killed in continuous battles between the conflicting factions in Libya; the Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and the Parliament in the east and the Government of National Accord led by Fayez Al-Sarraj and its forces in the west.
Receiving Libyan tribal leaders last July in Cairo, President Sisi has affirmed Egypt’s longstanding support to peaceful solution in Libya through encouraging negotiations between Libyan factions, but said Egypt will not stand idly as it watches activities that threaten Egypt’s national security.
Sisi in June had announced an initiative calling for ceasefire.
However, he announced on July 16, during his meeting with the tribal chiefs, that one of the conflicting parties, definitely referring to the GNA has failed to have the political will to apply ceasefire and stop illegal activities in the country and has fell under control of a forein power, definitely referring to Turkey.
He warned that the Sirte-Jufra red line shall not be crossed, describing it as a call for peace by Egypt to activate the political solution in the country. The Libyan provinces of Sirte and Jufra are both critical for Egypt and the Libyan National Army. They strategically lie in the center of the country. Sirte has most of the country’s oil and is a major point of conflict between the conflicting sides in Egypt, due to a maritime deal between Turkey and the Government of National Accord, which is rejected by the Libyan National Army, Egypt and Europe. Egypt also fears that it can be attacked by jets launching from the Jufra airport.
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