Libya's Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush praised on Saturday the Egyptian role in ensuring the success of the Libyan dialogue, ending divisions, reaching a ceasefire and supporting stability in the North African country. Mangoush's remarks came in a joint press conference with her Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, who received her in the Egyptian foreign ministry headquarters in Cairo on Saturday. "Egyptian-Libyan relations are distinguished on all levels," Mangoush said, adding that she is looking forward to Egypt's support for stability in Libya. The Libyan minister welcomed the arrival of an Egyptian delegation in Libya to reopen the Cairo embassy in Tripoli and its consulate in Benghazi. Moreover, she noted that there are many security and economic challenges facing the political process in Libya, in addition to the legacy of divisions. Mangoush's visit is the result of an official invitation in April from Shoukry. The invitation, according to a previous statement by Egyptian foreign ministry, comes "within the framework of continuing consultation and coordination on strengthening the pillars of stability in Libya," and also "in light of the extended historic relations between the two countries." Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his meeting with Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush in Cairo on Saturday From his side, Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt's support for the Libyan interim executive authority, noting that he discussed with Mangoush the efforts to restore security and stability in Libya, advancing relations between the two countries, and efforts to achieve cooperation and meet the interests of the two peoples. Egypt calls for the exit of mercenaries and all foreign forces from Libya without any procrastination, Shoukry said. Earlier in the day, the two top diplomats held discussions that focused on issues of mutual concern and the latest developments in Libya, as well as pushing forward with the agreed measures of the political process, including holding elections at the end of 2021. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Libyan counterpart Najla Mangoush during their official discussions in Cairo on Saturday The Egyptian minister said that he discussed with his Libyan counterpart the ongoing preparations for the Berlin II conference on Libya in order to make it a success. In the presence of Libya's transitional government, Germany will host a new set of Libyan peace talks on 23 June in Berlin, where preparations for national elections planned for 24 December as well as the withdrawal of foreign troops and mercenaries from Libya will be discussed. In 2020, Berlin hosted the first round of the UN-sponsored talks on Libya, which was thrown into a decade of violence following the 2011 overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi.
