French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is set to visit Egypt next week for discussions about Libya, the French ministry said on Friday. In statements reported by state agency MENA, the ministry said Le Drian will visit Egypt as part of a foreign trip which also includes stops in Cyprus and Greece from Thursday to Saturday. The French foreign minister is set to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, with an expected focus on the Libyan crisis and the efforts being exerted to hold presidential and parliamentary elections before the end of this year. The Syrian crisis and the peace process in the Middle East will also be discussed. This will be Le Drian's second visit to Egypt in less than two months. In April, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Le Drian in Cairo. At the meeting they affirmed the need to hold elections in Libya before the end of 2018, given that the situation in Libya affects the security and stability of the Mediterranean region. Egypt and France have focused on the Libyan issue during their bilateral talks and meetings, affirming their commitment in supporting efforts for political reconciliation. Last month, Egypt was among the states that participated in the French-government organized Paris conference on Libya, which aimed to shape a political roadmap that could lead to UN-backed elections by the end of the year.
