Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi voiced support for all positive moves that aim to achieve peace and development in Libya, asserting Egypt’s firm stance of rejecting foreign interferences and militias in the war-torn country, according to a presidency statement.
Al-Sisi’s comments came during a meeting on Thursday with High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell in Cairo, in the presence of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and EU Ambassador to Egypt Christian Berger.
The meeting addressed efforts aim to reach a political settlement in Libya, the ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean region, counterterrorism, the peace process in the Middle East, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute.
The meeting also tackled enhancing cooperation between Egypt and the EU in security, economic, and political fields among other issues.
Meanwhile, Al-Sisi emphasised strong relations with the EU, in the light of joint challenges that Egypt and the EU face in the Mediterranean region.
For his part, Borrell stressed that Egypt is a strategic partner for the EU due to its political prominence in the region.
He praised Egypt’s efforts in various issues including the Libyan crisis, hosting millions of refugees in Egypt, preventing illegal immigration, counterterrorism, as well its efforts toward establishing peace in the Middle East.
On GERD issue, Al-Sisi asserts Egypt’s rights in the Nile River and the need to reaching a binding, legal and balanced agreement that includes clear rules over the operating and the filling of the Ethiopian dam and takes into consideration the interests of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.
Al-Sisi emphasised the significance of the water issue for Egypt, adding it is a matter of national security.
Furthermore, Al-Sisi and Borrell agreed on joining international efforts to resume negotiations between Palestinian parties to reach a fair and comprehensive settlement for the Palestinian cause per international accords.
Borrell’s visit came two days after he visited Libya and met, separately, with Fayez Al-Sarraj, Head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh.
Borrell discussed with Libyan rivals possible ways to push forward the political process, the return to 5+5 military committee talks, and to lift the oil blockade.
He voiced his support for the coordinated ceasefire between Al-Sarraj and Saleh announced in separate statements on 21 August, adding that “all external interferences must stop.”
