Libya's GNA Interior Min. discusses with Egyptian delegation reopening of embassy in Tripoli

CAIRO - 16 February 2020: Minister of Interior in the Government of National Accord Fathi Bashagha discussed on Tuesday with a high-ranking Egyptian delegation arrangements for reopening the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli.

 

According to a statement by the Libyan Interior Ministry, the Egyptian delegation headed by Ambassador Mohamed Tharwat, director of the Foreign Minister's Office, extended Egypt's congratulations on choosing Libya's new executive authority, expressing the neighboring country's  keenness on achieving security and stability in Libya.

 

The Egyptian delegation added that practical steps were taken to reopen the embassy headquarters in Tripoli.

 

The delegation appreciated the efforts made by the Libyan Minister of Interior to establish security in the capital, Tripoli, and other cities, defying the false reports claiming the existence of a security defect in the capital, Tripoli, and its suburbs.

 

For his part, Bashagha expressed his happiness at the high-level Egyptian delegation's visit to enhance security cooperation between the two brotherly countries in a way that serves the two countries' common interest.

 

The embassy and the consulate suspended their operations in Libya in January 2014, after embassy workers were kidnapped by gunmen and the consulate was the target of a shooting.

 

Mohammed Al-Qiblawi, spokesman for the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the media that the Egyptian consulate will be opened inside the embassy’s headquarters to serve the Egyptian community in the country.

 

Following the selection of a new presidential council and interim government through the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry has expressed Egypt’s readiness to work with the new Libyan authorities.

 

On Feb. 11, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called for ending all forms of foreign interference in the Libyan internal affairs and ensuring the departure of foreign fighters and mercenaries from the Libyan territories. "The Egyptian foreign minister affirmed the need to achieve a comprehensive political solution in Libya that allows the transfer of power to an elected government," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

 

Shoukry’s remarks came as he spoke during the Philia Forum, attended by the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in Athens.