Egypt and Greece discuss Libya's evolving situation

CAIRO - 25 May 2020: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Monday received a phone call from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss issues of common concern, especially developments in the Libyan situation.

They discussed ways to develop efforts to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic and ease its medical, economic, and social impacts.

During the call, Sisi and Mitsotakis shared similar views as regards their countries’ stances and interests in the Middle East region along with asserting the significance of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), which is considered as one of the key tools towards cementing cooperation among countries taking part in it in the domain of energy and gas, according to the presidential statement.

The spokesman added that the phone call tackled the latest updates of the Libyan crisis, with both sides affirming the rejection of foreign interference that makes the issue more complicated and eventually services the interests of the foreign parties at the expense of Libyan people's rights, will, and interests.

Sisi and Mitsotakis said that such interference endangers not only the stability and security of Libya's neighbors but also European countries.

Meanwhile, they called for unified international efforts to support a settlement of the Libyan crisis through supporting the UN bids in this regard along with putting into effect the outcomes of the Berlin summit on Libya, which took place in January 2020 in Germany.

Sisi and Mitsotakis agreed on boosting cooperation in terms of fighting the coronavirus through exchanging the know-how and upholding coordination between bodies concerned in the two friendly nations, according to Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady.

They took up means of boosting cooperation at all levels, whether at the bilateral one or within the framework of the trilateral cooperation mechanism grouping Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece.

In this respect, both sides agreed on resuming exchanged visits at the level of senior officials, once the international aviation movement, which is disrupted by the pandemic, is back to normal.

Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Muammar Ghadafi in 2011, with two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the country.

The country’s internationally recognised government is based in Tripoli, while Khalifa Haftar — the commander of the Libyan National Army — supports a parallel administration based in the east.