EGYPT OBJECTS TO TURKEY, QATAR PRESENCE AT AU MEETING ON LIBYA

Kairo, 8 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/28 January 2015 (MINA) – Egypt has objected to an invitation extended by the African Union (AU) to Turkey and Qatar to attend the International Contact Group for Libya meeting scheduled today at the AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Well informed African diplomatic source, who preferred not to be named, told Anadolu: “Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry strongly opposed Turkey and Qatar’s presence at the International Contact Group for Libya meeting.”

The source pointed out that the Egyptian foreign minister told AU’s Peace and Security Council chief, Ismail Al-Sharqawi that there is “no need” for Doha and Ankara to participate in the meeting, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting. Wesnesday.

Differences overshadowed relations between Ankara and Doha and the current authorities in Egypt following the overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on 3 July 3 2013.

According to the source: “Egypt could boycott the meeting or downgrade its level of participation to less than foreign minister” after AU officials refused Egypt’s objection saying they have invited Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Kuwait because they are concerned with the crisis in Libya.

Efforts are underway to convince Egypt to send its foreign minister to the meeting, the sources said.

Invitations to attend the meeting were extended to Libya’s neighbouring countries, namely Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Tunisia, Chad, Niger, the UN Security Council permanent members as well as influential countries, such as Germany, Japan, Italy, Spain, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE.

The source added that Libya’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Dairi also opposed Qatar and Turkey’s presence at the meeting, accusing them of supporting terrorist groups in his country.

The AU meeting in Addis Ababa yesterday witnessed “substantial variations among African foreign ministers”, according to an involved source.

The source said: “One group led by Algeria rejects international military intervention to resolve the Libyan crisis.

While two other countries strongly support military intervention to prevent spill over to neighbouring countries.” The United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, is hosting talks to reach a solution to the Libyan crisis.

The Libyan Islamist-led General National Congress announced last Wednesday that it will suspend its participation in the talks in Geneva following attacks carried out by militants affiliated with renegade General Khalifa Hafter on government institutions in Benghazi, in the east of the country. (T/P002/P3).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)