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English.Ahram.org.eg: Libya will officially request Egyptian military intervention if militias infiltrate Sirte: Parliament speaker

Posted by: Berhane.Habtemariam59@web.de

Date: Wednesday, 24 June 2020

Speaker of Libyan Parliament Aguila Saleh Issa (Reuters)
Speaker of Libyan Parliament Aguila Saleh Issa (Reuters)
Wednesday 24 Jun 2020
The head of the eastern Libyan parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh said on Wednesday that the Libyan people will request the military intervention of Egypt in Libya if forces of terrorist militias infiltrate the strategic city of Sirte.

Speaking to Egypt's state-owned MENA news agency, Saleh said the Egyptian intervention "would be legitimate under the Libyan people's mandate” to protect the Libyan and Egyptian security.

"We will request the intervention of the Egyptian armed forces to support the Libyan army in case of the infiltration of Sirte,” Saleh stressed.

Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said his country has a legitimate right to intervene in Libya and ordered his army to be prepared to carry out any mission outside the country if necesasry.

He said any intervention by Egypt would mainly be aimed at to protecting Egypt’s western border, achieving a ceasefire, and restoring stability and peace in Libya, stressing that crossing the Sirte-Jufra frontline is a “red line” for Egypt.

“The Libyan people formally ask Egypt to intervene with military forces if needed to maintain the Libyan national security and the Egyptian national security,” said Saleh, who is allied to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar. “That would be a legitimate self-defense if the terrorist and armed militias crossed the red line that President Sisi spoke about and attempted to go beyond the cities of Sirte or Al-Jafra.

Saleh said he asked for the support of the Egyptian armed forces during his speech at the Egyptian parliament in January, a request he said had been accepted by Egyptian MPs.

By doing so, Saleh said, the Egyptian army will protect the security of both Egypt and Libya by ”securing its western borders and preventing militias from advancing into areas that pose a threat to Egypt's security.”

The oil-rich country is divided between two rival administrations in the east and west.

Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia support Haftar, while the Government of National Accord (GNA) is supported by Qatar and Turkey.

Earlier this month, Egyptian President Abedl Fattah El-Sisi announced an initiative that proposes a ceasefire and called for disbanding Libyan militias and the withdrawal of foreign mercenaries.

The plan was accepted by eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar, but dismissed by the rival western government in Tripoli.

The initiative had been welcomed by Russia the United States and a number of Arab countries.

Saleh said the Libyan National Army (LNA) moved towards Tripoli last year with the aim of “liberating the capital from the militias' grip.”

Militias and terrorist groups, Saleh said, are seeking to steal the country’s oil wealth, saying they should be eliminated and security institutions should take over.

To avoid causing harm to the Libyan people, after Turkey brought more than 15,000 mercenaries in Tripoli, the LNA decided to move away from the capital, Saleh said, adding that this was an act of responding to international calls for a ceasefire amid international initiatives, including Egypt’s proposal.

Saleh said a ceasfire and peace talks have always been an Egyptian demand, which is rejected by "colonial powers and some Libyans who seek to achieve their interests" through fighting.

Saleh believes that a political dialogue should not exclude or marginalise any party, and that all regions should be represented in the presidency and state authorities across all levels.

"We will not disagree on wealth or power. We have rules for governance and we are partners in everything,” Saleh asserted, adding that the country’s petroleum wealth is “for all Libyans”.

Saleh, who is based in Libya's eastern Al-Kobba city, added that the Libyan parliament is the only elected authority that represents the Libyan people.

He stated that its members have spoken to all sects of the Libyan society that support El-Sisi in implementing Cairo's peace initiative for a ceasefire, resuming inter-Libyan dialogue or preparing for a legitimate military intervention to support and protect them against the attempts by foreign powers to take their resources and wealth.

Saleh said that President Sisi was “not biased” and that Egypt’s interference is not in support for one party over another. “Rather, President Sisi always pushes all parties towards dialogue and a peaceful solution, and always calls for reconciliation,” he said, adding that Egypt has not assaulted or interveneed in the affairs of any country.

Saleh pointed out that Egypt's leaders and people have historically provided support to the Libyan people, sent food and medicines, witnessed the the establishment of the Libyan army in 1940, and backed the North African country in its independence endeavours.

The parliament speaker said an arms embargo aimed at curbing the fighting in Libya was only implemented on the LNA as armed militias have continued to receive weapons, adding that the interntional community has failed to stop the arrival of mercenaries and weapons into the Libyan territories.


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