Rady: Sisi to Reaffirm Significance of Foreign Mercenaries' Exit from Libya

Bassam Rady, the official presidency spokesperson, stressed on Friday that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi will affirm during his participation in the Paris International Conference on Libya the need to mobilize international support for the holding of the Libyan elections next December.

"Sisi will reaffirm the necessity of the exit of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya," said Rady.

He added that President El Sisi’s participation in the conference came at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was keen for the participation of the Egyptian President in the conference due to the pivotal Egyptian role in the political settlement in Libya.

The official spokesman said, in statements to the media delegation accompanying President Sisi during his current visit to Paris, that the Paris International Conference on Libya is an important station in the international framework to deal with the Libyan crisis, which has extended since 2012 until now.

He noted that the Libyan crisis has gone through multiple transitional stations, including the Skhirat Agreement,  the road map, the Berlin Conference, and the Cairo Declaration.

"The Libyan crisis is going through a sensitive, articulate and delicate stage in the history of that country and the Libyan people," Rady manifested.

In exclusive statements to state-owned television, Rady said: "There is an important point related to Sisi's participation in the Paris conference- this year, since the president announced the red lines in Libya, has had an important reality and a strong positive push in terms of restoring calm in Libya and restoring balance on the ground there."

He pointed out: "The red lines announced by President Sisi were meant to stabilize the situation,  restore calm to a very large extent, and restore balance in the field and operational situation on the ground."

Sisi arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in the French capital, Paris, on Thursday to take part in the International Conference on Libya.

“The President’s participation in this important conference comes in response to the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, and in light of the close relations between Egypt and France, as well as Egypt’s pivotal role in supporting the political track in Libya at the bilateral, regional and international levels,” noted Rady.