Cairo: The Egyptian and Tunisian foreign ministers have emphasized the urgent need for a political settlement in Libya that is driven by Libyan ownership and leadership, with the goal of facilitating both presidential and parliamentary elections. This statement underscores their commitment to preserving the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Libya.
According to Libyan News Agency, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty and his Tunisian counterpart, Mohamed Ali Nafti, made these remarks during a meeting on the sidelines of the 7th Conference of Cooperation Agencies of Member States of the Islamic Development Bank, held in Cairo. The ministers stressed the significance of safeguarding Libya's national institutions and the importance of a comprehensive political settlement led by Libyans themselves.
Minister Abdel-Aty highlighted the necessity of ongoing coordination between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria through the tripartite mechanism of neighboring countries concerning Libya. He stressed the value of maintaining regular meetings within this framework to align the positions of neighboring countries and bolster efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in Libya.
The discussions also touched on the importance of continued collaboration between Egypt and Tunisia within the framework of the League of Arab States. This is particularly pertinent as Tunisia currently holds the presidency of the League's Council. The two ministers aim to enhance joint Arab action, coordinate responses to regional challenges, and support the security and stability of Arab nations. Additionally, they explored ways to improve cooperation in Africa, leveraging the resources and expertise of both countries to foster development and strengthen South-South cooperation. They also discussed maintaining coordination in African and international forums to advance the interests of African nations and their people.