Egypt will send Ibrahim Mahlab, the president s assistant for national and strategic projects, to an international conference in Paris on Tuesday which aims to help resolve the Libyan conflict.
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid announced on Sunday that Mahlab would be attending the event, which is being hosted by the French government.
"Egypt s participation in the conference comes under its keenness for the urgent political reconciliation of the Libyan crisis, achieving the interests of the Libyan people," Abu Zeid said in a statement, stressing Egypt s wish for restored security and stability in the neighbouring country.
Eighteen other countries and four international organisations will be represented at the conference, to agree on a political roadmap to resolve disputed issues that would then pave the way for UN-backed elections by the end of the year.
Libyan rival factions have also been invited to attend the conference, according to AFP.
The rivals include the prime minister and head of Libya s UN-backed unity government in Tripoli in the west, Fayez Al-Sarraj, and Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who dominates the country s eastern side.
It s unclear if the conflicting parties will attend.
Egypt and France have focused the Libyan issue during their bilateral talks and meetings, affirming their commitment in supporting efforts for political reconciliation, said Abu Zeid.
On Monday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and French counterpart Emmannuel Macron discussed developments in Libya, including Egyptian efforts to restore stability and to unify Libya s armed forces, in a phone call.
Last month El-Sisi met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Cairo where they affirmed the need to hold elections in Libya before the end of 2018, given that the situation in Libya affects the security and stability of the Mediterranean region.
