Salame Discusses al-Multaqa al-Watani Preparations with Aboul Gheit, Sarraj

Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council
Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council
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Salame Discusses al-Multaqa al-Watani Preparations with Aboul Gheit, Sarraj

Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council
Al-Sarraj during his meeting with Salame and Williams. Presidential Council

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit has discussed with the head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ghassan Salame, preparations for the so-called al-Multaqa al-Watani that is set to take place in the coming weeks.

Mahmoud Afifi, spokesman for the Arab League secretary general, said that Aboul Gheit and Salame discussed during a phone conversation on Thursday the latest arrangements made by UNSMIL to organize the meeting.

The Arab League leader and the UN envoy agreed to continue coordination into encouraging all Libyan factions to assume their responsibilities in overcoming the country’s problems, said Afifi.

They also discussed the need to back all efforts to consolidate security and stability across Libya and to unify the country’s institutions.

The UN mission also announced Thursday that Salame and Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams discussed preparations for al-Multaqa al-Watani in a meeting with the head of the Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj.

“They stressed the need to expedite implementation of the security arrangements for Tripoli and to continue economic reforms & service delivery,” UNSMIL said in a tweet.

The meeting came as a security official in the capital confirmed media reports that several state institutions had been temporarily evacuated over fears of attacks by the ISIS terrorist group.

The official refused to reveal the source of the security threats. But stressed that security agencies have upped their measures near most state agencies and institutions.

These developments came just two days after the GNA’s interior minister, Basha Agha, said that ISIS has a presence in Tripoli and that its militants are freely roaming in the city and its suburbs.



Egypt, Greece Agree to Boost Ties, Back Gaza Reconstruction Plan 

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 
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Egypt, Greece Agree to Boost Ties, Back Gaza Reconstruction Plan 

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and the Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shake hands after signing a memorandum of cooperation in Athens on May 7, 2025. (AFP) 

Greece and Egypt signed a "strategic partnership" deal on Wednesday as they seek to step up political coordination to help safeguard stability in the Eastern Mediterranean amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

"Our bilateral cooperation is based on political, economic, and cultural ties, which are deeply rooted in history and defined by our strong commitment to the values of peace and the full respect of international law," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a joint statement.

The two officials met during the first meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council, a body they agreed to set up more than a year ago to improve ties.

The two leaders reaffirmed their joint stance over the need to respect international law to promote peace in Gaza.

"The first priority is for hostilities to stop and restore the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians," Mitsotakis said in joint statements with Sisi. He said Greece supported an Arab-backed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza once a ceasefire was achieved.

Migration also topped the agenda of bilateral talks as European governments have long been worried about the risk of instability in Egypt, a country of 106 million people where economic adversity has pushed increasing numbers to migrate.

Egypt largely shut off irregular migration from its north coast in 2016, but the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos have seen a steep rise in migrant arrivals, mostly from Afghanistan and Egypt.

The European Union last year announced a 7.4 billion euro ($8.40 billion) funding package and an upgraded relationship with Egypt, in part of a push to stem migrant flows from Egypt to Europe. Last month, the EU's executive arm included Egypt on a list of "safe countries" where failed asylum seekers could be returned.