Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Saturday’s readiness to get involved in the Libyan conflict, stressing that it is a legal step from the point of view of international law. Alternatively, Egypt insists on the immediate cessation of military operations in Libya. In Tripoli the President al-Sisi was regarded as a Declaration of war. However, Egypt has supported not only its traditional allies among the Arab countries, but also USA and Russia made an emphasis on appeals of Cairo for ceasefire.”Any direct interference of Egypt in Libya now seen as a step that has international legitimacy,”— said on Saturday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in his address to the Egyptians, made after the completion of his inspection of the armed forces in the Western military district on the border with Libya. “This law is based on the need to protect Egypt’s borders from terrorist groups, to help the Libyan brothers in restoring security and stability to end the bloodshed among Libyans in the East and in the West, and to support the ceasefire and launch an inclusive political process under the UN auspices,” he said. He also recalled that he put forward two weeks ago, the “Cairo initiative” for a cease-fire in Libya, which provided for the withdrawal from the country the foreign mercenaries and the start of political reforms.For power in Libya are fighting two major forces — sitting in Tripoli, the national consensus Government (NTC) under the control of Fayeza Zarraga and the Libyan national army (LNA) led by field Marshal Khalifa the Haftarot. On its territory in the East in Tobruk, the seat of House of representatives and has its “interim government”. Since December of last year, military support to the NTC on the basis of formal agreements concluded with Tripoli, has Turkey, including through the transfer to Libya of arms and mercenaries from Syria. For its part, Tripoli accuses Egypt, UAE and Russia for military support the LDF. Thanks to Turkish aid, the forces of the NTC were able to end a 14-month siege of Tripoli by the army of the Haftarot, forcing her to retreat to the city of Sirte and the municipality of El Dzhufra. Line Sirte—al-Dzhufra is the gateway to the area’s “oil Crescent”.Among those present at the speech of the President of Egypt was a high-ranking military, political and public figures, as well as the delegate from Libya, who called himself the representative of the Libyan tribes. He was the only one who entered into a dialogue with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, turning to him with a request on behalf of all the Libyan tribes on the protection of Libya and its sovereignty. In response, the Libyan guest, and was named the circumstances under catactivities designed Egyptian army can start fighting in the neighboring country. “The security of Libya is part of Egypt’s national security… Sirte and al-Dzhufra is a “red line”, which we will not allow to cross,” said Mr. al-Sisi. According to him, Cairo was “ready to help the Libyan brothers and the Egyptian troops will move forward in Libya”, if asked to do so. He also added that Egypt is ready “to train and arm the Libyan tribes against foreign intervention”. Earlier on Saturday, in the course of the review of the divisions of the air force of the Western military district, the President urged the country’s armed forces to be ready “to perform any mission,” within or beyond the Egyptian borders.The Saturday performances of the President of Egypt was addressed primarily to the Government of national consensus and Turkey, which has ignored his proposal for a cease-fire. “Political negotiations with the East will take place, but we need to take Sirte and al-Guru,” said two weeks ago the Minister of internal Affairs of the NTC, Fathi Ali Basaga in an interview with Bloomberg. This position remained unchanged. “The statements of the President of Egypt, blatant interference in the Affairs of our country, we believe their Declaration of war on Libya,”— said the official representative of command of operation “Sirt El Dzhufra” Abdelhadi Drach. A similar statement was made by the Presidential Council of the NTC.The speaker of the house of representatives Aguila Saleh said that they were a response to his call to the Egyptian Parliament “about the need for intervention and support of our armed forces in their war against terrorism and opposition to foreign invasion.” Request for assistance from the house of representatives recognized by the international community on a par with the NTC,— it is a legitimate reason for Cairo to launch a military operation in Libya.Solidarity with Egypt also expressed Saudi Arabia and the UAE, making it clear that we are talking about protecting the interests of the Arab countries. And Riyadh and Abu Dhabi stressed that support the “Cairo initiative” ceasefire in Libya, but at the same time, I believe that Egypt has the right to protect its borders from terrorists. The state Minister of foreign Affairs of the UAE Anwar Gargash stressed that the support of the Arab countries the position of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi a demonstration of their desire to protect themselves from encroachments on their sovereignty and border with regional powers, clearly alluding to Turkey. While just a few days ago Mr. Gargash expressed his discontent with the sole decision of the Caliph Haftarot. Arab media note that after the defeat of the LDF near Tripoli, the UAE has reduced its support to the LDF. However, Egypt and the UAE are unable to prevent the spread of Turkey’s influence in Libya at the time, Ankara is already discussing the establishment of military bases in this country and its Uch��in the policy development fields.From Cairo there are more serious allies. The United States in their first reaction to the words of President al-Sisi did not focus on threats to Cairo to invade Libya, and its efforts to cease-fire in that country. Similar positions are in Moscow. On Sunday, Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Egyptian counterpart Sameh shoukry. As noted in the Russian foreign Ministry, the Ministers emphasized “the absence of a military solution and no alternative to immediate and sustained cessation of hostilities”. About the need for a ceasefire in Libya was discussed in an interview on the eve of Sergey Lavrov with foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu. We will remind that last week the visit of the foreign Ministers and the Ministry of defense of the Russian Federation in Istanbul did not take place, since Moscow first wanted to fix the cease-fire, but the Turks asked for time to reconcile this issue with Fiesa Barragem.RIAC expert Kirill Semenov believes that the situation largely depends on the success of the negotiations between Moscow and Ankara and their influence on parties to the Libyan conflict. He reminded that military actions in the area of Sirte and al-Jufry stopped after the start of a new series of negotiations between Russia and Turkey, as well as diplomatic activity on the part of Egypt. “In Moscow and Cairo fear that the taking of Sirte and al-Jufri will not stop the forces of the NTC and they will move in the direction of Benghazi, changing the balance of power in Libya,” he said.”Turkey and the TNC will test the resolve of Cairo and attempts to capture Sirte and al-Guru. That’s when we’ll find out how serious were the words of al-Sisi on the “red line” in Libya,”— said “Kommersant” the head of the Libyan research project, Libya Outlook for Research and Consulting Muhammad Aligarh, which is based in Eastern Libya.”Egypt and the UAE have a lot invested in the Haftorah, and it is difficult for them to abandon this political project”,— said “Kommersant” the head of the Centre for Arab and Islamic studies, Institute of Oriental studies, Vasily Kuznetsov. According to him, there are several reasons both for and against the Cairo military operations in Libya. “On the one hand, this military adventure. Not the fact that Egypt is ready for a direct confrontation with Turkey, it has other foreign policy problems. On the other hand, Cairo is limited ability to influence the political settlement in Libya, as it is not a neutral party. At the same time, the military operation can be a continuation of the policy of Cairo in the consolidation of the population on a Patriotic basis. In addition, this can be the money received from Gulf countries, and financial support to Egypt’s economic crisis— the question is very relevant,”— said Mr. Kuznetsov.Marianna Belenkaya
