According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, the Arab top diplomats' remarks came in a joint statement following their convening of the fourth ministerial meeting of the trilateral mechanism of Libya’s direct neighbouring countries.
The meeting, held in Cairo, addressed the latest developments in Libya, as well as ways to support efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political settlement that achieves security, stability, development, and prosperity for the Libyan people.
In the statement, the ministers stressed that a comprehensive political solution remains the only way to end the Libyan crisis.
They emphasized the importance of advancing the political process under UN sponsorship in a manner that leads to ending the state of division, unifying Libya’s state institutions, and creating suitable conditions for holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.
The ministers affirmed the principle of Libyan ownership and leadership of the political process, stressing that the solution must be Libyan-Libyan and stem from the will and consensus of all components of the Libyan people without exclusion.
They voiced concern over the security challenges facing Libya, including incidents of violence and political assassinations, renewing their call on all Libyan parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize the supreme national interest to preserve the security and safety of the Libyan people and safeguard the country’s resources.
The ministers further stressed the importance of supporting efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and enhancing security and stability throughout Libya.
They also reaffirmed their rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Libyan affairs, considering such interference a major factor in fueling tensions and prolonging the crisis.
They renewed support for the efforts of the Joint Military Commission (5+5) to consolidate the ceasefire and work toward the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries from Libyan territory within a specified timeframe to create conditions for unifying Libya’s military and security institutions.
The ministers stressed the importance of continuing coordination with regional and international partners, including the UN, the League of Arab States, and the African Union, in support of efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement and sustainable stability in Libya.
They affirmed the depth of the historical and fraternal ties linking their countries with Libya, as well as the bonds of neighborhood and shared destiny.
They agreed to continue close consultations in a manner that contributes to preserving Libya’s territorial unity and sovereignty, helping Libyans bridge divisions, and serving the interests and achieving the aspirations of the Libyan people.
They also affirmed their commitment to continuing the regular meetings of Libya’s trilateral neighbouring countries mechanism, agreeing that the next meeting will be held in Algeria at a later date to be determined.
According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, the ministers held a separate meeting with the UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Hanna Tetteh.
During the meeting, the ministers affirmed their support for the mission of the UN envoy and appreciated efforts undertaken by the UN mission to address the current situation in Libya.
For her part, the UN envoy expressed appreciation for the pivotal role played by Libya’s neighbouring countries, praising the joint coordination and ongoing consultations within the trilateral mechanism.
She also affirmed the UN’s commitment to continuing close cooperation with regional partners and all Libyan parties to advance the settlement process and facilitate a comprehensive political process that meets the aspirations of the Libyan people and lays the foundation for a phase of sustainable stability.
Earlier on Thursday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received Algerian and Tunisian top diplomats.
During the meeting, El-Sisi stressed the important role of neighbouring countries in safeguarding Libya’s unity and stability, reaffirming the importance of maintaining the Egypt-Tunisia-Algeria trilateral coordination mechanism.
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