Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Cairo, Egypt, on Jan. 14, 2020. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte agreed on Tuesday to intensify joint efforts aiming at a political solution to the Libyan crisis. (MENA via Xinhua)
CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte agreed on Tuesday to intensify joint efforts aiming at a political solution to the Libyan crisis.
During a meeting in Cairo, both leaders discussed the Libyan issue and emphasized support for a political settlement to the conflict in order to restore the country's stability and maintain its territorial integrity and resources, Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said in a statement.
Libya has been locked in a civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow that intra-Libyan talks mediated by Russia and Turkey reached no settlement on Monday, though efforts to reach a deal will be continued.
Lavrov said the head of the UN-backed Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez al-Serraj and his foreign minister Mohamed Taher Siala signed a cease-fire draft, but Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, asked for an extra day and left Moscow without signing it.
Earlier this month, the leaders of Turkey and Russia put forth a Libya cease-fire initiative, which the conflicting parties accepted while also agreeing to hold talks in Moscow.
Meanwhile, Sisi appreciated the close relations that bring Italy and Egypt together. He stressed the need to enhance the existing bilateral coordination and cooperation to address many regional challenges in the Mediterranean region.
For his part, Conte affirmed the Italian government's keenness to strengthen and advance relations with Egypt.
He stressed the necessity to continue coordination on regional issues of common concern, especially in light of the pivotal role played by Egypt as a basic pillar for security and stability in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.
