Libyan-Egyptian Consulate Committee Discusses Activating ‘Four Freedoms’ Agreement

Libyan-Egyptian Consulate Committee Discusses Activating ‘Four Freedoms’ Agreement
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Libyan-Egyptian Consulate Committee Discusses Activating ‘Four Freedoms’ Agreement

Libyan-Egyptian Consulate Committee Discusses Activating ‘Four Freedoms’ Agreement

The Libyan-Egyptian Joint Consulate Committee has discussed the importance of activating the bilateral “Four Freedoms” Agreement, which includes articles related to ownership, movement, work, and residence.

Following an eight-year halt, the Committee held its 13th session in Cairo this week, during which parties discussed cooperation in eight various fields, as well as several issues of common interest.

Among the matters discussed were aspects of joint cooperation in the fields of consular, security and judicial cooperation, manpower and social insurance, marine fishing and fisheries, financial and customs issues, land transport, and health.

Extensive discussions also took place on several outstanding issues, including facilitating procedures to grant visas to citizens of both countries, simplifying entry procedures through official outlets, and working on activating the agreement for canceling entry fees.

Both sides also agreed to figure out and overcome all difficulties facing the movement of cars, individuals, trucks, and goods between the two countries, as well as giving priority to patients and humanitarian cases.

The Egyptian delegation was headed by Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Ambassador Amr Mahmoud Abbas, while the Libyan side was headed by Undersecretary for Technical Affairs Mahmoud Khalifa al-Telisi.

Earlier this week, Cairo assigned Ambassador Mohammed Tharwat as Charge d’Affaires of its embassy in Tripoli. He is expected to arrive in the capital on Friday to assume his post.

In April, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited Tripoli at the head of a high-ranking delegation and met with his Libyan counterpart, Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh.

Both sides discussed regional and international issues of common interest and emphasized the importance of intensifying coordination and political consultation on various issues.

They stressed the importance of protecting Libya’s sovereignty over its territory, its political unity, and its independence.

Madbouly stressed in a statement that the Presidential Council and the Government of National Unity (GNU) are the only legitimate executive authorities in Libya.



Syria, Israel Agree to Further Talks on De-escalating Conflict

A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
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Syria, Israel Agree to Further Talks on De-escalating Conflict

A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
A drone view shows the remains of a destroyed tank, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

Syrian and Israeli officials agreed to meet again after no final accord was reached in US-mediated talks in Paris on de-escalating the conflict in southern Syria, state-run Ekhbariya TV reported on Saturday, citing a diplomatic source.

The source described the dialogue as "honest and responsible", in the first confirmation from the Syrian side that talks had taken place.

On Friday, US envoy Tom Barrack said officials from both countries spoke about de-escalating the situation in Syria during the talks on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Representatives from the Syrian foreign ministry and intelligence officials were in attendance, Syria's Ekhbariya reported.

Hundreds of people have been reported killed in clashes in the southern Syrian province of Sweida between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces. Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said was mass killings of Druze by government forces.

Last week's clashes underlined the challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in stabilizing Syria and maintaining centralized rule, despite warming ties with the US and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel.

The diplomatic source said the meeting involved initial consultations aimed at "reducing tensions and opening channels of communication amid an ongoing escalation since early December".

The Syrian side held Israel responsible for the latest escalation, saying that the continuation of such "hostile policies" was threatening the region, according to the source. The Syrian delegation also said that Damascus would not accept "imposing new realities on the ground".