APS : THURSDAY 09 JANUARY 2020
ALGIERS- The intense diplomatic activity on the settlement of the Libyan crisis continued Thursday, in Algiers, with the arrival of Egyptian and Italian Foreign Ministers Sameh Shoukri and Luigi Di Maio.
Early in the afternoon, President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune received Egyptian Minister, bearer of a message from President Abdel Fattah El Sissi
Sameh Shoukri will hold a private meeting with his Algerian counterpart Sabri Boukadoum on the latest developments on the Libyan scene.
Previously, Sabri Boukadoum held discussions with Italian Minister Luigi Di Maio.
On the Libyan crisis, the coordination with Rome is “very good,” said Boukadoum following his talks with Di Maio, while insisting on a return to negotiations with “the support of the international community, particularly that of the region’s countries.”
“Everyone is in favor of a ceasefire in Libya,” said Luigi Di Maio.
Algiers has increased over the past few days the diplomatic initiatives to reach a ceasefire in Libya, while the battle for the capture of the Libyan capital Tripoli has increased between the two rival camps, i.e. the Government of National Accord and the troops of retired general Khalifa Haftar.
Algeria has rejected any foreign interference in Libya and urged the “Libyan parties to rapidly return to the negotiating table.”
Receiving on Monday the Head of the Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez al Sarraj, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune renewed “the attachment of Algeria to shield the region from any foreign interference” in the moment when Turkey has decided to deploy forces in Libya to “support” the GNA in the battle over Tripoli.
Subsequently to this meeting, Algeria called on the international community, in particular the UN Security Council to “assume its responsibilities” and “impose ceasefire.”
On Wednesday, both Turkish and Russian leaders Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Poutine called from Istanbul for ceasefire in Libya, as of Sunday 12 January midnight.
The two countries which work to harmonize their conflicting positions on the Libyan crisis, however insist on the rejection of military solution in Libya.
Stepping up its diplomatic efforts, Algeria has received on Monday Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Discussions as part of his official visit to Algiers mainly revolved around the Libyan crisis.
Algiers and Ankara discussed the “ways to be implemented to prevent the situation in Libya from worsening.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has been received by President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum.
The rejection of military solution is gaining ground. Alongside the diplomatic forcing of Algeria, the European Union pledged to intensify its efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the Libyan crisis and prevent that the country becomes the theatre of a proxy war.
As for him, Tunisian president Kais Saied warned against the risk of escalation that may be caused by “any foreign interference.”
