File Photo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt and Russia exchanged viewpoints on developments in the region, primarily the Libyan crisis, in a phone call on Sunday, according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.
According to the statement, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov the developments in Libya and the Palestinian issue.
The two ministers also discussed updates related to the deadlocked negotiations on the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The statement added that the two ministers discussed intensifying political consultations and pushing cooperation to serve their countries’ joint interests.
The phone call came one day after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi hinted at the possibility of a direct intervention by the Egyptian army to restore peace in Libya.
Egypt, along with the UAE and Russia, backs Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, who has been fighting the forces of the UN-backed government, which is backed by Turkey.
Earlier this month, El-Sisi announced a peace initiative dubbed the Cairo Declaration to end the civil war in Libya, proposing a ceasefire and the election of a leadership council.
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