The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday decided to appoint former Assistant Foreign Minister Hani Khalaf as the Egyptian government's special envoy to Benghazi.
In a statement on Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Araby said the decision comes within the framework of Egypt's determination to follow up on developments in Libya and ensure the safety and rights of Egyptian citizens in Libya.
In the statement, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Menha Bochum said the Egyptian envoy would meet with the president of Libya's Transitional National Assembly in order to better understand the rebels' assessment of the current situation and feelings about a political settlement.
Araby stressed that Egypt is calling for the immediate cessation of bloodshed in Libya.
He said the envoy would emphasize Egypt’s support for a political settlement that would ensure the independence, sovereignty and unity of Libya, and non-interference in the country's internal affairs. He went on to say that Egypt rejects foreign military presence in Libyan territory.
He added that the envoy would demand that Egypt's border be secured against smuggling or human trafficking, and would communicate to the Libyan people that Egypt sympathizes with their demands for change.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
