The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aqila Saleh reaffirmed that Egypt did not attack anyone and did not interfere in the affairs of any country, but rather it had been working to bring peace by urging all parties in Libya to stay in their positions.
Saleh added in an interview with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat news agency that the Libyan people formally asked Egypt to intervene with military forces if the necessities of preserving Libyan and Egyptian national security necessitated in what would be a legitimate self-defense if what he described as “terrorist and armed militias” crossed the red line that President El-Sisi talked about or attempted to overtake the cities of Sirte or Al-Jafra.
Saleh added that this interference is legitimate and comes within the framework of responding to the Libyan people’s mandate because Egypt protects Libyan national security and at the same time protects its national security by securing its western borders, preventing the advance of “militias” to control areas that represent a threat to Egypt’s security, reiterating that, in the event of an advance by those militias to Sirte, the HoR will request the intervention of the Egyptian armed forces to support the Libyan National Army.
Saleh pointed out that the national army’s move from the capital, Tripoli, was correct after Turkey brought more than 15,000 mercenaries to the capital, which was calling for the use of greater force that might harm innocent citizens, and that the army’s move came in response to international demands for a ceasefire and consistent with the initiatives of the international community, which were crystallized in the Cairo Declaration initiative announced on June 06, under the auspices of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
He also said that the ceasefire is an international demand and that Egypt renewed its demand for it, so that the parties return to the negotiating table, which is a solution that the colonial powers and some Libyans who have interests reject as he described, stressing that the dialogue must not marginalize or exclude anyone and that all Libyans be partners in power.
Saleh said every region must be represented in the presidency and all authorities at all levels because all Libyans are partners in the country and power, so there is no exclusion or marginalization for anyone.
HoR Speaker Aqila Saleh said that in January, he delivered a speech in front of the Egyptian parliament, in which he stressed that the Libyan people may need the support of the Egyptian armed forces, and the Egyptian parliament, representing the Egyptian people, agreed to this demand.
On the arms embargo on Libya, Saleh said that this was implemented only on the Libyan national army, while arms used to openly arrive in daylight to “armed militias” despite the ability of the international community to stop it completely.
“In addition to the arrival of weapons and equipment, thousands of mercenaries were sent to Libya,” he said.
“We have stopped fighting, we have stopped war. We have the ability to solve our problems, but the reason for all our problems is external intervention and behind-the-scenes interference, so I invite everyone to save Libyans from any more bloodshed.” Saleh said.
