He added that the Salloum port is commercially essential for Libya, and that there are ongoing contacts between the Libyan and Egyptian sides in order to facilitate cooperation there. He praised the daily efforts exerted by the Egyptian government in cooperation with Libya to stop arms smuggling and monitor the border.
The ambassador explained that Egypt's contribution to the establishment and training of the Libyan army has already begun, and there are Libyan soldiers studying and training in Egypt, but this will take considerable time and effort.
Ambassador Maasoum Marzouk, a former assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said that the majority of the Egyptian community in Libya is located in areas that are far from the conflict. Egyptians have interacted with the tribes in control of those areas and have [developed] economic and often familial links and are therefore safe from the armed conflict. Marzouk stressed the need for Egypt to cooperate with Libya's neighboring countries and play a bigger role so as not to be surprised by a new Somalia on its borders.
For his part, political science professor Amr Hamzawy said there is a need to “unite efforts in a bid to save the Egyptians working in Libya and help them resume their lives.” He called for civil society organizations and relief societies to play a role, as Egyptians in Libya mainly work in farming and simple crafts. Their collective return to the homeland means the loss of savings, the loss of tangible factors of livelihood and considerable personal and psychological pressure. Hamzawy also called on the political forces and parties as well as the private sector to set up psychological and vocational rehabilitation programs, develop employment programs and create job opportunities for returnees from Libya.
