Sisi Affirms Negotiations on Dam, Political Solution in Libya

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met Wednesday with senior statesmen and officials so as to discuss the latest developments of Libya issue and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam file, according to Spokesman of the Egyptian Presidency Ambassador Bassam Rady. 

“President Sisi met Wednesday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the Ministers of Defense, Military Production, Foreign Affairs, Water Resources, Irrigation, Justice, Finance, and Interior, in addition to the Chief of the General Intelligence, and the Chairman of the Administrative Control Authority,” said Rady.

The presidency spokesman stated that President Sisi was briefed during the meeting on the developments of the Renaissance Dam file, taking into account the Egyptian determinants and constants in this regard, especially with regard to developing a comprehensive agreement between all parties concerned about the rules for filling and operating the dam.

Sisi stressed that Egypt rejects any unilateral act or action that violated his country’s rights in the waters of the Nile.

In this context, Sisi called for the continuation of moves at various levels to preserve Egypt's water rights for the sake of present and future generations. 

“The president called for continuing the current diplomatic path of negotiation to resolve the Renaissance Dam crisis, especially by intensifying consultations in this regard with brotherly Sudan, alongside various international powers and member states of the Security Council,” Rady added.

[caption id="attachment_133206" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] President Abdel Fattah El Sisi[/caption]

In another regard, the Egyptian president was briefed on the developments of the Libyan issue. Hence, he called for continuing to strive to achieve the goal of restoring the Libyan nation-state and its institutions in order to impose security and stability and preserve the capabilities of the Libyan people, as well as the Egyptian national security.

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“The president asserted Egypt's position on how to contain the crisis in Libya by underpinning a ceasefire and putting in place the necessary guarantees, in addition to dismantling militias and eliminating mercenaries from the conflict equation so as to open new horizons to reach a comprehensive political solution,” Rady noted.

Sisi Announces the Cairo Declaration 

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, Libya has been in chaos. Since 2015, the two ruling powers have been in conflict – the GNA based in Tripoli (west), and a parallel government supported by the LNA Commander Field Marshal Haftar in the east of the country.

[caption id="attachment_130747" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi (c), Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh (L) and LNA Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar (R)- Press Photo[/caption]

On June 6, Sisi received Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh and Libyan National Army Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and announced an initiative to end the conflict in the neighboring country.

Sisi told a news conference that the initiative includes a cease-fire starting Monday and is meant to pave the way for elections in oil-rich Libya. He warned against continuing to look for a military solution to the country’s crisis.

The Cairo Declaration emphasizes the unity, integrity, and independence of the Libyan lands, respecting all international efforts, initiatives, and relevant Security Council resolutions, and accordingly, the commitment of all parties to the ceasefire from June 8, 2020.

The initiative is mainly based on the outcomes of the Berlin Summit, which resulted in a comprehensive political solution that includes clear implementation steps (political, security, and economic tracks) and the respect for human rights and international human rights law.

Each of the three regions (Eastern, Western and Southern) shall form an electoral entity whose members are chosen from the House of Representatives and the State Council representing each region, along with tribal elders and notables, and taking into account an acceptable representation of women, youth, political elites, intellectuals, and unions.

Thus, the three committees meet under the auspices of the United Nations and each region chooses its own representative, either by consensus or via election, within a period not exceeding 90 days, according to the initiative.