US Security Adviser in Egypt for Talks on Libya

Egypt’s President Sisi meets with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. (Egypt presidency spokesman)
Egypt’s President Sisi meets with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. (Egypt presidency spokesman)
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US Security Adviser in Egypt for Talks on Libya

Egypt’s President Sisi meets with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. (Egypt presidency spokesman)
Egypt’s President Sisi meets with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. (Egypt presidency spokesman)

US President Joe Biden's national security adviser met Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday for talks aimed at ensuring Libya's December elections go ahead as planned, Sisi's office said.

Jake Sullivan travelled to Egypt as part of a Middle East tour that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In his meeting with Sisi, they spoke about "organizing the Libyan elections" as well as "the withdrawal of foreign troops and mercenaries" from the war-ravaged country and the "unification of its armed forces", the Egyptian leader's spokesman Bassem Radi said.

Sullivan's trip to Cairo comes around two weeks after Egypt separately hosted head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, and east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar.

A UN-led process secured a landmark ceasefire in October last year, raising hopes that elections scheduled for December 24 can bring lasting peace to the country.

Controversy over an electoral law has threatened the process, however.

Parliamentary Speaker Aguila Saleh angered critics who charged that he bypassed due process and pushed through legislation favoring Haftar, who suspended his military activities last week in a step that could lead to a run for the presidency.

Sisi and Sullivan also discussed an Ethiopian mega-dam on the Nile that is causing tensions with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan.



Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Guarantor of Israeli Stance, Negotiations Are Good

19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
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Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Guarantor of Israeli Stance, Negotiations Are Good

19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)
19 November 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: US special envoy Amos Hochstein meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut. (Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/dpa)

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that the situation was "good in principle" following two hours of talks with US envoy Amos Hochstein to discuss the US proposal for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Some details of the proposal still needed to be hashed out, including technical details, he added.

He said Hochstein would settle those details before travelling on to Israel, and that Lebanon saw the United States as the guarantor of the Israeli stance.

On whether the draft under discussion was also addressed with the Israelis, he said Hochstein "is coordinating with them over it."

"This wouldn’t be the first time the Israelis renege on their pledges," he added.

Hochstein had arrived in Beirut on Tuesday and kicked off his talks with Berri, who has been tasked by Hezbollah in negotiating on its behalf.

Hochstein said he held "very constructive talks" with Berri and that there was a "real opportunity" to bring the conflict between the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah and Israel to an end.

"This is a moment of decision-making. I am here in Beirut to facilitate that decision but it's ultimately up to the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. It is now within our grasp," he told reporters after the meeting.