Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi renewed his support to the Libyan presidential council and the Government of National Unity (GNU) as he met on Sunday with Libya's Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush. El-Sisi reiterated his support to the presidential council and the GNU with the aim of restoring Libyan security and stability and holding national elections in Libya in December as scheduled, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. The Egyptian president described the election as a main step on the path of political settlement to the Libyan crisis through allowing the free will of the Libyan people to shape their future. This comes within the framework of Egypt's full support for Libya in its political path, El-Sisi said, adding that Libyan national security represents an extension to Egyptian national security. "We are always keen that this path is completed and ends with elections that express the will of the Libyan people away from the militias and mercenaries existing [in Libya]," El-Sisi said in a video published by the presidency. El-Sisi hailed Mangoush's efforts to restore the status of Libyan diplomatic work and to move along with international parties concerned with the Libyan crisis. The president voiced Egypt's full support to these efforts through its movements on the bilateral, regional, and international levels. "Go ahead with your heroic stances and do not fear a blamer's reprimand," El-Sisi told Mangoush in the video. El-Sisi affirmed that the restoration of Libyan sovereignty should start with the withdrawal of foreign troops and mercenaries from the country. The president underscored Egypt's unwavering stance that is based on the protection of the unity of Libyan territories, the perseverance of the resources of the Libyan people, and the non-interference in Libyan domestic affairs. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel attended the meeting. Mangoush expressed her country's appreciation of Egypt's support to the Libyan side in managing the current transitional stage, expressing hope that this support continues during the coming period, the presidential statement read. Mangoush voiced her aspiration for the enhancement of cooperation between Egypt and Libya, especially on the security level, and raising the level of mutual diplomatic representation even before the elections are held. The Libyan FM praised Egypt's support for the efforts to settle the Libyan crisis on the various political, military, and economic tracks in light of the historic relations between the two countries. She also hailed Egypt's sincere efforts to support the Libyan people, saying these efforts stem from the principles of preserving the unity of Libyan territories, restoring Libyan security and stability, and preserving the Libyan state's national institutions. These principles include unifying the military institution, ending foreign interference, the exit of all mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya, and the establishment of the principles of dialogue between Libyan rivals, Mangoush said. She also highlighted the importance of supporting national reconciliation in preparation for holding transparent, fair elections and ending the bloodshed of the Libyan people through the Cairo Declaration. The Cairo Declaration on Libya is a joint political initiative announced by El-Sisi last year to resolve the Libyan crisis and end the armed conflict in the Arab country. "We hope that Egypt has an effective role in unifying the military institution and in bringing Libyans together for national reconciliation," Mangoush said in the video. "We always need Egypt and the Egyptian leadership to create a balance in the region," she added. The Libyan FM highlighted the historic and longstanding relations gathering the two countries, affirming the current need to enhance their bilateral cooperation.
