Egypt has remained silent on an optimism expressed by Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), as a high-ranking delegation concluded a first visit by Egyptian officials to Tripoli since 2014.
Deputy Prime Minister of the GNA Ahmed Omar Maiteeq stated that the meeting with the Egyptian delegation was a sign of solid bilateral ties.
During the meeting, they discussed activating economic and security agreements, as well as reopening the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli and resuming flights between the two countries.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his GNA counterpart Mohamed Siala “discussed the Libyan issue and the support for stability”, according to the Libyan Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohamed Gablawi.
Shoukry stressed ongoing bilateral cooperation, saying a visit by an Egyptian delegation to Libya is a serious step in this direction.
The officials discussed "mutual security challenges and ways to enhance security cooperation."
The delegation discussed the possibility of reopening the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli "at the earliest time", according to Gablawi. The two sides also agreed on taking steps towards resuming Libyan flights to Cairo, he added.
Senior Egyptian security officials visited the Libyan capital for the first time in years on Sunday and held talks with officials from the internationally recognized GNA, the Libyan interior ministry said.
The Egyptian delegation includes the deputy head of the intelligence service and top officials from the foreign and defense ministries, an Egyptian intelligence source told Reuters.
Further, GNA Defense Minister Salah el-Din Al-Namroush held discussions with the Mayor of Misrata Municipality, Mahmoud Al-Soqotri, and other members of the municipal council.
According to a statement by the ministry, the meeting discussed the development of military institutions within the municipality, along with the launch of training centers to train and improve the backup forces in order to fully integrate them into the army.
