Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi affirmed on Thursday to German Chancellor Angela Merkel Egypt's keenness on seeing unity and stability in Libya.
In a telephone call he received from the German leader, El-Sisi also expressed Egypt's support for efforts to combat terrorism and extremist militias that threaten not only Libya, but the entire Middle East and the Mediterranean region.
According to Egypt's presidential spokesman Bassam Rady, the two leaders discussed regional and international issues, with Merkel affirming her keenness on exchanging viewpoints with President El-Sisi on developments in Libya to end the crisis in the north African country.
Rady said that the phone call also dealt with bilateral relations in light of the growing ties between the two countries, noting that Merkel expressed Germany's keenness on developing relations with Egypt, while President El-Sisi voiced hope for pushing forward Egyptian-German relations
"The president stressed the necessity of limiting illegitimate intervention in Libya's affairs," the statement said.
"The two leaders agreed upon the necessity of combining efforts to end the Libyan crisis via a comprehensive solution," it added.
Earlier this week, on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum youth forum in Sharm El-Sheikh, President El-Sisi warned against attempts "to control" neighbouring Libya.
"We will not allow anyone to believe that they can control Libya and Sudan," El-Sisi said, adding that "interference in Libya by foreign countries has delayed a solution [there] for years."
El-Sisi's remarks came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country is ready to send troops to Libya if asked by the country's Government of National Accord (GNA).
The Libyan Presidential Council criticised the remarks made by President El-Sisi, saying they disregard Libya's sovereignty.
The council expressed bewilderment at El-Sisi's statements, in which he described "the absence of the free will of the government and it falling hostage to armed and terrorist militias," and alluding to his ability to directly intervene in Libya.
Egypt has repeatedly slammed memoranda of understanding by the Turkish government and Fayez Al-Sarraj, the prime minister of the GNA, on maritime borders and security earlier this month.
"The two MoUs have no legal effect, they cannot be officially recognised in light of the Skhirat Agreement's Article 8, which stipulates that the [Libyan] government or the cabinet, not the prime minister, have the authority to sign international agreements," the Egyptian foreign ministry said.
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