Libyan GNA: Egyptian Delegation Promises to Reopen Embassy

On a visit, the first in 6 years, an Egyptian security delegation held talks in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Sunday, and met with the interior and foreign ministers of the Government of National Accord (GNA).

In a statement, the GNA Ministry of Interior said that its interior minister held a high-level security meeting with the Egyptian delegation visiting Tripoli. The meeting discussed common security challenges and ways to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.

They also discussed ways to support the ceasefire agreement and the 5 + 5 committee's findings in order to support international efforts on political dialogue and to get out of the current crisis by political and peaceful means, according to the statement.

"The Egyptian delegation promised the Libyan side to reopen the Egypt`s embassy in Tripoli as soon as possible. They also agreed on the need to develop urgent solutions to resume Libyan flights to Cairo," said the Libyan GNA Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Qiblawi.

Al-Qiblawi denied that the Egyptian delegation had presented any conditions to the Libyan side. He added: "The purpose of the visit was to address work to restore normal diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries in several fields."

On his part, the GNA Minister of Interior Fathi Bashagha said on Twitter: "The meetings were fruitful and constructive, during which we reviewed ways to strengthen joint security and intelligence in a way that preserves the interests of the two countries and the region from the threat of terrorism and organized crime." He described relations with Cairo as "very important."

A source in Egypt's general intelligence service told Reuters that the Egyptian delegation includes the deputy head of the intelligence service and senior officials from the ministries of foreign affairs and defense.

The visit comes a day after the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited Tripoli. He threatened the Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his supporters, in case they were exposed to the Turkish presence in western Libya.

Libya has been living in chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Today it is pided between two rival camps, the GNA and the LNA.

After the Libyan Army launched an attack last year to regain control of Tripoli, the GNA with Turkish support, regained control over all of western Libya after battles that ended in early June with the withdrawal of the Libyan army forces towards the city of Sirte.

As a result, diplomatic efforts succeeded in stopping the military actions, and culminated in the signing of the Libyan Military Commission (5 + 5) in Geneva, under international sponsorship, at the end of last October, an agreement for a permanent ceasefire throughout the country.