Egypt and Italy have jointly stressed the importance of achieving a comprehensive political settlement to the Libyan crisis. This is in conjunction with the need for the effective implementation of the EU’s Operation ‘IRINI’, which aims to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya, according to a statement published by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The joint statement came following a phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio. The two discussed developments in the Libyan crisis, a number of regional and international issues, as well as bilateral relations between Cairo and Rome.
With regards to the situation in Libya, the two Ministers emphasized the importance of moving towards a comprehensive political settlement. The two also rejected foreign interference in Libya and agreed on the importance of Operation ‘IRINI’.
Shoukry and Di Maio agreed on the importance of furthering cooperation and coordination between the two friendly countries in a number of fields. They also spoke of ways to intensify efforts to address the repercussions of the global COVID-19 pandemic.