Arab League aligns with Cairo declaration for peace in Libya

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At the call of Egypt, the foreign ministers of the Arab League met on Tuesday, June 23 by videoconference for an extraordinary summit dedicated to Libya. Participants announced their opposition to any form of interference in Libya and to any plans to divide the country. They aligned themselves with the Egyptian position to call for the dissolution of the militias and the resumption of mercenaries from Libyan territory in order to make a ceasefire viable.

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In their final communiqué, the foreign ministers of the Arab countries call for an immediate cease-fire in Libya, and above all for a reduction in tensions around Sirte, which would allow a rapid resumption of military negotiations under the aegis of the UN.

They also display their support for an exclusive political process, far from any military solution, and their rejection of any form of foreign or regional interference in the affairs of the Arab countries, without giving more details on the countries militarily involved in Libya.

The unification of institutions and the return of a viable Libyan state is also among the points underlined by the Arab ministers assembled. The press release also mentions the important role of the neighboring countries of Libya and calls for more coordination among themselves and with the UN, the European Union and the African Union.

The Libyan National Accord Government (GNA) was only represented by the Libyan delegate to the League who criticized Cairo during the meeting. He insisted that peace initiatives must come from countries which are not involved in the conflict, and which do not threaten "  legal government with a declaration of war  ".

This videoconference meeting was held while fire was still exchanged today near Sirte between the Libyan national army of Marshal Haftar and the forces of the GNA. A senior Turkish official announced that the GNA, assisted by Ankara, is continuing preparations for taking Sirte and Al Joufra. The ANL sent reinforcements to Sirte in preparation for any attack. 

The ministers also raised the issue of the Renaissance dam. The Arab League has called on Ethiopia not to fill it out before reaching an agreement with Khartoum and Cairo. Addis Ababa said it wanted to fill the dam in July, which will affect the flow of the river downstream.

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• Arab League
• Libya
• Egypt