On Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, held talks with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, in Cairo. They discussed a number of regional issues, especially the situation in Libya.
The Saudi FM reiterated his call to end all foreign interference in Libya, announcing the Kingdom’s support for the ‘Cairo Declaration’, that calls for an immediate ceasefire in the North African country.
In a joint press conference, bin Farhan said that Saudi Arabia’s position was firm regarding the necessity of holding peaceful negotiations, and halting all hostilities between the warring parties. He also stressed the importance of respecting Egyptian national security.
The Saudi top diplomat also stressed the importance of securing Libya from foreign interference, adding: “I think we are fully compatible in this aspect. We will continue close coordination between the two countries, in order to find opportunities to address this challenge”, thus reiterating the Kingdom’s support for Egyptian efforts to solve the Libyan crisis.
Shoukry confirmed that there was an Egyptian-Saudi consensus regarding the necessity of ending all foreign intervention in Libya, and in other regional countries. He added that Egypt will “not tolerate the presence of terrorists” at its borders. The Egyptian FM also said that Egypt supports an immediate ceasefire in Libya, but added that there is no political will, to reach a solution through talks in the country.
Bin Farhan, and Shoukry’s statements were in reference to Turkey’s increasing military intervention in Libya. This relates to escalating tensions between the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), and the Egyptian-backed Libyan National Army (LNA).
Oil-rich Libya has been marred in chaos since the ouster and killing of leader, Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with two rival authorities, and a multitude of militias now vying for control.