Libya, Algeria Discuss Border Security

Libyan FM Najla al-Magnoush meets with her Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra, during her visit. (Algerian Foreign Ministry)
Libyan FM Najla al-Magnoush meets with her Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra, during her visit. (Algerian Foreign Ministry)
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Libya, Algeria Discuss Border Security

Libyan FM Najla al-Magnoush meets with her Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra, during her visit. (Algerian Foreign Ministry)
Libyan FM Najla al-Magnoush meets with her Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra, during her visit. (Algerian Foreign Ministry)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stressed his country's hope that Libya will hold elections, which would be a "significant step" in resolving its political crisis.

The president received on Thursday Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush.

He urged the need for all foreign militias to withdraw from Libya and for an end to foreign meddling in its internal affairs.

He expressed Algeria's keenness on Libya holding elections before the end of the year, said informed sources.

Presidential and parliamentary elections were set to be held in December 2021, but they were postponed over political disagreements.

Tebboune stressed the need to resolve political disputes between various Libyan parties so that stability can be restored in their country and the region.

Talks with Magnoush also tackled border security, illegal migration, arms smuggling and views on the Ukraine war.

For her part, Magnoush said her one-day visit sought to garner support to Libya's Government of National Unity ahead of holding transparent elections.

Talks also focused on stability in Libya that will ensure stability in the Arab and Maghreb regions, she added.

According to the Libyan Foreign Ministry, Tebboune expressed Algeria's "unconditional support" to the GNU and its strenuous efforts to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

Magnoush also met with her Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra, during her visit.



France Cools Expectations of Swift Palestinian State Recognition

 France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot delivers a speech during the inauguration of the Choiseul Library as the first site labeled "Heritage of Diplomacy" ("Patrimoine de la Diplomacie") in Versailles, near Paris on June 5, 2025. (AFP)
France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot delivers a speech during the inauguration of the Choiseul Library as the first site labeled "Heritage of Diplomacy" ("Patrimoine de la Diplomacie") in Versailles, near Paris on June 5, 2025. (AFP)
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France Cools Expectations of Swift Palestinian State Recognition

 France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot delivers a speech during the inauguration of the Choiseul Library as the first site labeled "Heritage of Diplomacy" ("Patrimoine de la Diplomacie") in Versailles, near Paris on June 5, 2025. (AFP)
France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot delivers a speech during the inauguration of the Choiseul Library as the first site labeled "Heritage of Diplomacy" ("Patrimoine de la Diplomacie") in Versailles, near Paris on June 5, 2025. (AFP)

France on Friday dampened expectations Paris could rapidly recognize a Palestinian state, with the French foreign minister saying while it was "determined" to make such a move, recognition had to be more than "symbolic".

France is due later this month to co-host with Saudi Arabia a UN conference in New York on a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

There had been expectations that France could recognize a Palestinian state during that conference, with President Emmanuel Macron also growing increasingly frustrated with Israel's blocking of aid to the Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

"France could have taken a symbolic decision. But this is not the choice we made because we have a particular responsibility" as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, while saying Paris was still "determined" to make the move.

Several EU countries including Ireland, Spain and Sweden recognize a Palestinian state. But Germany, while backing a two-state solution, has said recognition now would send the "wrong signal".

France is reportedly working closely on the issue with the United Kingdom, which also so far has not recognized a Palestinian state, at a time when French-British diplomatic ties are becoming increasingly tight after Brexit.

Macron on Thursday said that he expected the conference in New York would take steps "towards recognizing Palestine", without being more specific.

He has said he hopes French recognition of a Palestinian state would encourage other governments to do the same and that countries who do not recognize Israel should do so.

Barrot meanwhile also stressed the "absolute necessity" to address the issue of the disarmament of Palestinian group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.

Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Militants abducted 251 hostages, 55 of whom remain in Gaza, including 32 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive in Hamas-run Gaza has killed 54,677 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry there, figures the United Nations deems reliable.

Relations between Israel and France have deteriorated over the last weeks, with Israel's foreign ministry accusing Macron of undertaking a "crusade against the Jewish state" after he called on European countries to harden their stance if the humanitarian situation in Gaza did not improve.