Sisi calls for support for Libya’s Haftar

Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi called on the international community to support the Libyan National Army led by General Khalifa Haftar.

“It is very important that any Italian, European or international initiative is at the request of Libya and under the mandate of the United Nations and the Arab League” Al-Sisi told Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper on Wednesday.

“Europeans look at Libya and act as if Daesh were the only threat. No, it is not the only manifestation of the danger, and it would be a serious mistake to focus all our attention on them.” Al-Sisi said. “We must understand that the threat is the extremist ideology that demands that its followers kill those who are not part of the group.”

The Egyptian president stressed that instead of choosing foreign military intervention in Libya; the alternative is to support the Libyan National Army led by Major General Khalifa Haftar.

“There are positive results that can be achieved by supporting the Libyan National Army. And these results can be achieved before we assume the responsibility of intervening,” Al-Sisi explained.

“If we provide arms and support for the Libyan National Army, it can do the job much better than anyone else, better than any outside intervention that risks taking us into a situation that could get out of hand and bring about developments that escape our control.”

He stressed that Egypt encourages the Parliament of Tobruk which supports Haftar over a national unity government.