The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States on Friday said it had received a request from Egypt to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Libya, two weeks after the Egyptian president called for a ceasefire in the war-torn country. Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said on Friday that there was ongoing coordination with Oman, which is presiding over the current session, to determine a date for the virtual meeting, although it may be held next week. Zaki said the meeting would be held via video on the level of foreign ministers. The ministerial level meeting is being held to discuss developments on Libya. Earlier in June, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced Cairo's plan for a ceasefire in Libya, beginning June 8, after a tripartite meeting with the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and Speaker of Libyan Parliament Aguila Saleh. El Sisi this month announced a peace initiative to end the civil war in Libya, proposing a ceasefire and an elected leadership council. The initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, mandates a Libyan-Libyan resolution as a basis for resolving the country's conflict, following resolutions by the UN and past efforts in Paris, Rome, Abu Dhabi, and most recently in Berlin. President El Sisi warned against using military tactics to resolve the crisis. A political solution is the only way to resolve the crisis in Libya, El Sisi said, adding that Libya's security is a pillar for Egypt's security. All Libyan parties have been asked to partake in the ceasefire, El Sisi said, adding that Haftar and Saleh are committed to protecting the Libyan people's best interests. Under the guidelines of the ceasefire, all foreign fighters must withdraw from Libya, he added. — Agencies
