On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the latest developments in Libya over a telephone call, according to a statement by the Kremlin. In a statement, Putin and Merkel expressed their concern over the escalation of fighting in Libya.
The two leaders reiterated that the only way out of the current crisis was to announce an immediate ceasefire and begin negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. During the call, the Russian President praised Egyptian mediation efforts, adding that the new peace initiative was in line with the outcomes of the Berlin Conference.
On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi received Libyan Parliament Speaker Ageela Saleh and Libyan National Army Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in Cairo. He subsequently announced the “Cairo Declaration”, an initiative to bring an end to the conflict in Libya.
The Cairo Declaration emphasizes the unity, integrity and independence of the Libya and draws upon international efforts, initiatives, and relevant Security Council resolutions. It calls for all parties to commit to a ceasefire beginning 8 June.
The initiative is based on the outcomes of the Berlin Conference, which called for a comprehensive political solution that includes clear implementation steps in the political, security, and economic avenues.