FM Lamamra: “No disagreement between Algeria and Egypt over Libya crisis”

Algerian foreign affairs minister, Ramtane Lamamra, has affirmed that there are no divergences whatsoever between Algeria and Egypt over the crisis now besetting Libya.

Mr Lamamra made the statement after talks in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukri, on the sidelines of the broad-based international conference held on Sunday in Cairo destined to raising funds for the reconstruction of conflict-battered Gaza.

The Algerian foreign Minister denied the existence of any disagreement between Algeria and Egypt, stressing the two countries are resolutely determined to pool efforts to pave the way for the early settlement of the Libyan crisis through the fostering of “an all-inclusive dialogue” involving all the Libyan trends and institutions.

The upcoming launch of an inter-Libyan inclusive dialogue to achieve a final solution to the internal crisis in Libya was lately at the centre of the activities of the Algerian diplomacy in consultation with the representatives of the international community and neighboring countries, during the 69th Ordinary Session of the UN General Assembly.

In this context, Ramtane Lamamra, who recalled Algeria’s rejection of any foreign military intervention in Libya, took part in a ministerial meeting of Libya’s neighboring countries. The meeting was an opportunity to assess the progress of the work done so far  since the setting up of this group last May at the initiative of Algeria, on the sidelines of the Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Lamamra who reviewed the ongoing preparations for the dialogue between the Libyan protagonists, outlined Algeria’s vision concerning the interaction between the group of Libya’s neighboring countries and other international partners expected to contribute to the international mediation effort.

Regarding the “complexity of the ground realities and the balance of power between the parties involved”, the participants emphasized the need to “adjust the initiatives and ensure the required efficiency.”

Mr Lamamra expressed further Algeria’s commitment to resolving the intricate crisis now gripping Libya, by being mobilized to help Libya take the path of salvation and reconstruction of its institutions.

Mr Ramtane Lamamra is heading the Algerian delegation to the Cairo conference, co-organized by Egypt and Norway, devoted to the reconstruction of  the Gaza Strip devastated this summer by the third Israeli military aggression in six years.  

At the opening of the conference, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, who greeted all the participants, flatly told Israel that “it is time to end the conflict with the Palestinians.”

The representatives of several humanitarian, financial and political organizations like the International Monetary Fund and the Arab League are also taking part in this conference.

50 days after the Israeli military aggression against Gaza, which killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, about 100,000 Palestinians are now homeless. Donor countries have reportedly pledged about 5 billion dollars for Gaza’s reconstruction effort during the proceedings of the conference.