French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had a telephonic conversation with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday. The two reportedly discussed regional issues of mutual concern, particularly the situation in Libya, reported The Egypt Today.
The French presidency said Macron and Sisi discussed Libya with the aim of supporting the United Nations’ ceasefire proposal and negotiation talks between Libya’s Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and strongman Khalifa Haftar, who launched an offensive against the capital Tripoli on April 4. Nearly 1,100 people have been killed so far.
Notably, UN envoy Ghassan Salame has proposed a ceasefire ahead of the Islamic Eid al-Adha celebrations, which starts around August 11, and has called for renewed negotiations.
Macron emphasized on the need to settle the current Libyan crisis that poses threats to the security of the whole region.
In a statement, Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said President Sisi stressed Egypt’s position that supports Libya’s unity, stability and security and also the efforts exerted by the Libyan National Army (LNA) in fighting terrorism and eliminating terrorist organizations which pose a threat to territorial security and the Mediterranean.
He said Sisi also expressed Egypt’s rejection of all forms of foreign interventions in the Libyan domestic affairs.
The European Union on Friday also called for Libya’s warring sides to establish a permanent ceasefire and return to UN-led talks to prepare for elections in the country.
“The European Union and its Member States welcome the proposal by Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ghassan Salame for a truce on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha as an important step in this regard,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.
Mogherini added that there is no military solution to the crisis in Libya. She said that the EU supports UN envoy Salame’s proposal to relaunch the political negotiations and to implement the ceasefire.
