The Speaker of the House of Representatives Aguila Saleh said that Libya looks forward to a broader phase of integration and cooperation with Egypt in the political, economic, developmental, and cultural spheres, noting that “the struggle against occupation united the two peoples in the past, the battle against terrorism brought them together yesterday, and today they are united by the fields of development and reconstruction.”

In a speech before the Egyptian House of Representatives on Monday, Saleh emphasized that Libyan-Egyptian relations represent a unique model that transcends the traditional concept of relations between states, highlighting the historical, social, cultural, and familial ties that bind the two peoples, ties “that cannot be severed no matter how circumstances and challenges may change.”

He added that Libyans “have not and will not forget Egypt’s kindness,” noting that Cairo has always been a pillar of support for the Libyan people throughout various historical periods, “from its support for the Libyan movement against Italian colonialism to its backing of Libya in confronting terrorism and political and humanitarian crises in recent years.”

Support for Libya’s Unity and Sovereignty

Saleh praised “Egypt’s positions in support of Libya’s unity and sovereignty,” affirming that Egypt has played a pivotal role in supporting Libyan stability and pushing for a comprehensive political settlement based on Libyan-Libyan consensus, the unification of institutions, and the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in tandem to meet the aspirations of the Libyan people.”

He emphasized that history has recorded Egypt’s “clear and steadfast” stances toward Libya, whether during the period of resistance against Italian colonialism, when it embraced Libyan freedom fighters and provided them with political, military, and media support, or during the establishment of the Senussi Army, which later became the nucleus of the Libyan Army, noting that Egypt has always been “a beacon of light and a caring mother” to the Libyans.

He added that relations between the two countries have been strengthened in the fight against terrorism over the past years, praising Egypt’s support for the General Command led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the war against “terrorist groups,” as well as its support for the House of Representatives since it began its work in 2014.

Saleh also praised Egypt’s humanitarian role during the Storm Daniel disaster that struck the city of Derna in 2023, noting that Egyptian rescue and aid teams were among the first to arrive in the city, including the deployment of the Mistral aircraft carrier as a floating hospital to treat the injured.

He renewed his invitation to members of the Egyptian Parliament to visit Libya, praising what he described as “the pivotal role Egypt is regaining regionally and internationally under President Sisi’s leadership, through a policy based on maintaining stability and promoting peace in the region.”