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Tripoli, 23 January 2013:
The President of National Congress General, Mohamed Magarief, and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi have agreed to set up . . .[restrict]a cooperation committee drawn from both countries’ cabinets to boost economic and political ties.
The committee, along with various sub-committees, will oversee closer collaboration in energy, agriculture, investment and industry as well as easing cross border traffic and visa applications. It will also oversea an integration of security efforts. It is expected to get down to business very soon according to Magarief.
He arrived in Cairo at the head of a delegation today, Wednesday, and held talks Morsi this afternoon.
In a joint press conference afterwards, Magarief spoke of the “depth and strength of the brotherly relations between the two brotherly peoples in Libya and Egypt”. He said that in addition to trade security and investment, he and the Egyptian leader had discussed the Palestinian issue, the revolution in Syria and events in Algeria and Mali.
For his part, Morsi said that there needed to be greater economic ties between the two countries, including joint projects, joint investment and an exchange of expertise and labour. In spite of good relations, trade and economic ties were significantly below what should be expected, he added. Trade could be much higher than the present $400-million worth of goods and services annually, as should investments, estimated at $12 billion.
On the subject of those wanted for justice by Libya, Morsi said that Egypt had agreed to proceed with extradition proceedings, provided they were “consistent with the constitutions and laws in both countries and in line with international norms and conventions signed by both sides”.
Magarief also indicated that Libya was putting the issue to one side in its efforts to improve relations with Egypt. “We are involved in this matter and are cooperating fully in this topic, he said, but “we in Libya now are working and more interested in focusing on national reconciliation in the country”.
The most important manifestation of this reconciliation, he added, would be the call to those Libyans living abroad, including in Egypt and Tunisia, to return and join with the rest of Libyans in building the new state. [/restrict]
