President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced on Saturday a new initiative for achieving a political solution in the Libyan conflict, in accordance with international agreements and initiatives. The Cairo Declaration was announced at a press conference following a meeting with Libyan Arab Army Forces (LAAF) Commander Khalifa Haftar and Libyan Parliamentary Speaker Aguila Saleh. Representatives from the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and Arab League (AL), as well as ambassadors to several countries, were present at the meeting. In a speech during the press conference, Al-Sisi said the initiative respects all previous international efforts for ending the conflict. It will also see a ceasefire announced in Libya starting at 6 am on 8 June. President Al-Sisi also warned of some parties' insistence to adopt military solutions to the Libyan crisis, which complicates internal situation and threatens regional stability. Egypt called for support of the LAAF in fighting and dismantling militias in Libya, Al-Sisi said. Saleh said the LAAF aimed to clear Tripoli of terrorists, rather than to fight citizens, but that Turkish interference in Libya has complicated the situation and hindered its anti-terrorism efforts. In his speech, Haftar praised the Egyptian efforts in reaching a political solution for the Libyan crisis, and to support the LAAF. He also attacked Turkish interference in the Libyan conflict that has fuelled internal polarisation by supporting the "unconstitutional" Government of National Accord (GNA).
