CAIRO, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed on Monday the latest developments in war-ravaged Libya.
During a phone call, Sisi reviewed Egypt's consistent strategic position toward the Libyan issue, which was represented by the Egypt-sponsored Cairo Declaration initiative to solve the crisis in Libya, said Bassam Rady, Egyptian presidential spokesman, in a statement.
The initiative is consistent with the various related international efforts as it preserves the Libyan national institutions and rejects illegal foreign intervention in Libya, Sisi noted.
On Saturday, Sisi announced an initiative to end the Libyan internal conflict following his meeting in Cairo with Libyan east-based military commander Khalifa Haftar and Tobruk-based parliament speaker Aguila Saleh.
Dubbed Cairo Declaration, the Egyptian initiative proposes a cease-fire between Libyan warring parties starting June 8, disbanding militias and handing over their arms, pulling out foreign forces, electing a ruling presidential council representing all Libyans and drafting a constitutional declaration to regulate elections for later stages.
For his part, Putin praised the Cairo Declaration as a comprehensive framework that provides an integrated and constructive proposal to settle the crisis in Libya.
The initiative boosts Egypt's role as a basic pillar for security and stability in the Middle East, he said.
Libya has been locked in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rival governments: the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in the capital Tripoli and a government in the northeastern city of Tobruk allied with the Haftar-led Libyan National Army (LNA).
Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France and Russia support Haftar's LNA, while the GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar as well as Italy.
According to the Egyptian spokesman, the two presidents also touched on bilateral relations in the light of the comprehensive strategic partnership and cooperation agreement between the two sides, including the construction of the Dabaa nuclear power plant and the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal area.
They also discussed cooperation in security issues and anti-terrorism, and agreed to resume mutual visits of senior officials after the decline of the coronavirus pandemic. Enditem
