Egypt’s potential Libya interaction is legitimate, Shoukry reiterates: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry yesterday echoed Saturday’s statements by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, telling Al Arabiya (watch: runtime: 13:15) that any military intervention in Libya to protect our western borders with Libya would be legitimate, but stressed that such a course would be Egypt’s last resort. Cypriot Forein Minister Nicos Christodoulides told Shoukry in a phone call yesterday that Nicosia supports Egypt’s position. Shoukry also discussed the Libya issue with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

Shoukry also maintained the government’s willingness to find a political solution with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, stressing that the decision to escalate the dispute to the UN Security Council following the breakdown in talks last week came as Ethiopia “has consistently refused to mediate." The minister also discussed Egypt’s position on the negotiations with the Associated Press.