CAIRO - Egypt and Libya can now both breathe a deep sigh of relief, having got rid of their dictatorial regimes. Egypt has compelled President Hosni Mubarak to step down after 30 years in power, while Libya has overthrown Muammar Ghaddafi, who ruled his people with an iron fist for more than four decades. Receiving members of the Libyan Transitional Council on Saturday, Egypt's Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said that the two countries will jointly plan their strategic relations. After ousting Ghaddafi, who is still at large, the Libyan nation is celebrating a new dawn and, like Egypt, determined to establish democracy, freedom and social justice. Stressing that the two nations have much in common, Sharaf declared Cairo's undivided support for the Libyan people in their efforts to rebuild their country. The two countries have vast joint borders; tribal communities sprawl across their territories, while mixed marriages between Egyptian and Libyan families are common. Egyptian and Libyan families living in border towns and villages in both countries share a deep-rooted culture, heritage and custom. These shared qualities will help the two countries fulfill their potential and live up to the speculations of their peoples. Egypt and Libya are on the threshold of a new, prosperous future – but only if they march hand-in-hand along the road. The economic integration of Egypt and Libya will undoubtedly encourage other Arab countries to join what could be a post-revolution alliance in the Arab world.
