Libya's Haftar and Saleh arrives in Cairo to consult on situation in Libya

CAIRO -23 September 2020: Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to meet with several Egyptian officials to coordinate and consult on the current developments in Libya.

Libyan sources confirmed to Egypt Today that the Parliament Speaker arrived on a private plane, explaining the visit comes within the framework of the moves led by Cairo to discuss the current developments in Libya.

Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) KhalifaHaftar also arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the most recent developments on the field situation in Libya and ways to support a political solution to the crisis.

Libyan sources confirmed in exclusive statements to Egypt Today that Haftar also arrived on a private plane accompanied by a military delegation, noting the visit comes within the framework of coordination and consultation with Cairo in several files, most notably the fight against terrorism.

This comes within the framework of the efforts made by the Egyptian state to preserve the security and stability of Libya and support a political solution within the framework of a "Libyan - Libyan" dialogue that assists the country out of the current crisis, which requires all Libyan people to join hands to establish a state of institutions and establish the law.

Egypt is adopting a strategy of opening up to all Libyan parties supporting a political solution, as part of its support for efforts to defuse the crisis in the country.

Egypt earlier announced an initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, which posits a Libyan-Libyan resolution as a basis for resolving the country’s conflict, drawing on earlier international efforts, including the Berlin conference.

On September 22, Egyptian President Sisi addressed several ongoing topics during the speech he gave at the United Nations’ 75th General Assembly which was held virtually due to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

President Sisi said that his country is committed to a political solution for the current crisis in Libya based on the Skhirat agreement, the Berlin conference, and Cairo’s declaration which set a schedule for establishing aconsensual government.

The president said that the current conflict in Libya harms the stability of the neighboring countries, adding that his country will protect its National Security if the armed clashes reached Sirte and Jufra cities.

“Egypt is keen to support the Libyans in their battle against the terrorist militias and unlawful regional intervention,” added Sisi.

Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It now has two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the country.

The country’s internationally recognized government is based in Tripoli, while KhalifaHaftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, is supported by a parallel administration based in the east.