The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Egyptian Parliament held a meeting to discuss the recent developments of the Libyan crisis, according to the Al-Ahram newspaper.
The Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Libyan Affairs, Ahmed Abdel-Majid Hamdna Allah told Al-Ahram that the Committee’s “vision regarding the latest developments in the Libyan arena will be discussed.”
Earlier this month, Libyan Parliament Speaker Ageela Saleh and the Head of the High Council of State (HCS) Khaled Al-Mishri, met in Cairo. The two officials said in a joint statement, that they have agreed to set “a clear and specific” roadmap for elections. They also agreed to create a joint committee to refer the constitutional document to the two chambers for approval.
Al-Mishri said that the new roadmap and the constitutional base that will govern the elections will be announced soon, following a meeting with Saleh, and the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily.
He explained that the disagreement on the constitutional basis “prevented them from presenting the roadmap to the Libyan people and in the media. The issue is now being brought up for societal dialogue, through seminars and press and media conferences.”
Cairo welcomed the agreement between the two Libya chambers. The Spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the agreement “is an important step in moving forward towards holding Presidential and Parliamentary elections simultaneously in Libya as soon as possible.”
Cairo reaffirmed its support for the unity and stability of Libya, and for state institutions. It also called for the departure of all foreign forces, mercenaries, and foreign fighters from Libyan territories.
The statement praised the role of the Libyan Parliament and the HCS in carrying out their responsibilities. It noted that the step “represents a main path that embodies the will of the Libyan people, since it was Libyan-led.”
The roadmap aims “to organise elections and unify state institutions,” according to a joint statement issued by the two chambers.
The two sides affirmed their “keenness to achieve a consensual constitutional basis, to reach the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.”
On Monday, Saleh said that elections could be held in or before November 2023. He pointed out that “the current dispute over the constitutional basis relates to the candidacy of military personnel and dual nationals, two points, where the committee in charge will converge views.”
