News Analysis: Egypt develops diplomacy to prevent foreign intervention in Libya: experts

Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-10 22:06:28|Editor: Shi Yinglun
Video PlayerClose

by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is developing a diplomatic strategy as a shield against the risks of Turkey's possible military deployment in Libya, Egyptian political experts said.

"The plans include shaping an international consensus against Turkey's involvement in Libya and backing multinational efforts to reach a negotiated settlement for the Libyan crisis," said Khalid Okasha, chairman of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies.

"The Egyptian diplomatic moves are expected to limit very soon any form of military intervention that Turkey was planning for," Okasha told Xinhua.

He highlighted Egypt's intensive efforts with European and North African countries to try to prevent Libya, with the increased involvement of international players in its conflict, from turning into a "second Syria."

On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Greece and Cyprus, who met in Cairo, highlighted "a comprehensive political solution" as "the only way out of the Libyan crisis and to restore stability in Libya."

A statement issued by the four foreign ministers declared "null and void" the agreements between Turkey and the UN-backed Libyan government which entitle Turkey to a vast area of the eastern Mediterranean.

The controversial agreements, signed in November 2019 by the head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Serraj and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, "undermined regional stability," the statement said.

Ankara is a key ally of the GNA in its fight against the east-based Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar who was trying to capture Tripoli from the UN-backed government.

While Cairo supports Haftar, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated at a meeting in Algeria on Thursday his country's rejection of any form of foreign military interference in Libya.

"Egypt's attempts to mobilize international and regional consensus over political settlement in Libya pave the way for the Berlin conference," which would draft a political operation to get Libya out of the fighting stage, said Okasha.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has held a series of consultations in the past few days with leaders of the United States, Russia, France, Italy, Britain and Germany on ending the conflict in Libya.

On Jan. 5, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Ankara will "gradually deploy soldiers" to Libya to support the GNA. Hafter later called on Libyans to take up arms in response to the prospective Turkish military intervention.

Sisi said recently that "Libya for us is a direct national security, and we won't allow anyone to control it."

Tariq Fahmy, a professor of international relations in Cairo University, expected the Berlin conference to resolve the crisis in Libya, while ruling out the possibility that Turkey will deploy military troops after sending some experts and consultants.

"The political settlement in Libya has earned a positive international momentum and Egypt made efforts to hold positive talks with main players of Berlin conference," he explained.

Notably no date has been set for the Berlin conference, which has been delayed more than once because of the differences among the participating countries.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001386947821