The meeting of the Permanent Committee on Arab Affairs that was called for by Ambassador Ihab Wahba, Coordinator of the Committee, included discussions on the situations in Libya and Algeria as well as Sudan.

• It was concluded that the situation in Algeria is almost worse than it is in Sudan due to the fact that the Great Powers have interests there in terms of oil, gas and the country’s strategic location. In addition, there are doubts about the loyalties of the military leaders who are currently running things there, as it seems to be divided between France and the US. However, the Algerian situation, unlike the Sudanese one, has the advantage of being moving within a constitutional framework including entering a transition period after President Abd-ElAziz Bou-Teflika had constitutionally stepped down. Nevertheless, it can be said that there is a roadmap shaping the future of Algeria, in which the army will play a major role both in the pre- and post-election phases and at all political and economic levels as well.

• As for the situations in Libya, the country is still experiencing a state of tension, division and political instability, being currently divided between the Libya’s recognized government with its Islamic orientation and being backed by Turkey and Qatar, allowing militias and terrorists to be present in Libya, on one hand, and the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar, being in control of Libyan territories more than it is for Al-Sarraj’s Government, on the other hand. Egypt is supporting the Libyan National Army forces, as Egypt views that it serves its interests, especially in light of the gains that the army has recently achieved and which made them able to tighten their strong grip on Libya, thus sparing Egypt the risk of terrorism that was posing a threat to its western borders.

      In view of this deteriorating situation witnessed by Libya, speakers in the meeting called on UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, to play a more balanced role to reach a speedy settlement of the situation in Libya, especially that the European countries which are effective and influential over the situations in Libya are witnessing an obvious division between the French position, which is almost similar to its Egyptian counterpart, whereas Paris fears terrorism and the continuation of illegal immigration, and Italy, which regards Libya as its former colony seeing that it is time to return back there after the chaos of 2011. In this sense, Italy supports Al-Sarraj’s Government, as do Britain and Turkey.