Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the international community to wholeheartedly support Libya in holding its general elections in a timely manner.
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According to the Anatolia News Agency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed, in a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Libyan National Unity Government, Abd al-Hamid al-Dabaiba in Ankara, his happiness at hosting Dabaiba and his cabinet ministers in Ankara.
He said that the first meeting of the Turkish-Libyan Cooperation Council was held successfully and has not been held since its establishment in 2014 due to the turmoil in the country.
Erdogan said that the two sides stressed during the talks the need to increase solidarity and cooperation between the two countries.
The Turkish President added:
“There are strong and deep-rooted relations between the two countries that are more than 500 years old. As two friendly and brotherly countries, we have fought for our centuries as one body against those who targeted our sovereignty.”
“We are building our future with the strength that we receive from our common history,” Erdogan said.
The Turkish President referred to Turkey’s support for the Libyan National Coalition government and its support for the militia attacks of Major General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army in Tripoli.
He said that when the attacks on Tripoli reached dangerous proportions, Turkey rushed to help the Libyan people in response to the request of the internationally recognized reconciliation government.
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Erdogan added that Turkey was the only country that responded to the government’s request for assistance from the international community.
While Turkey supported the legitimate government, others continued to support and equip the coup plot.
Erdogan added that Turkey’s support for Libya prevented the fall of Tripoli and the start of new massacres and guaranteed the ceasefire.
And that those who supported the coup and the coup in Libya instead of justice and legitimacy are complicit in these massacres.
The crimes against humanity and the war committed by the coup plotters are exposed one after the other over time, and the mass graves found in the city of Tarhuna are evidence of these crimes.
“Our main goal is to preserve Libya’s regional sovereignty, political unity and the well-being of its people,” he said.
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Turkey will support the Libyan national unity government, just as it supported the previous legitimate government in Libya.
“Our priority from now on is to expand the authority and sovereignty of the national unity government throughout Libya,” Erdogan said.
He said that the Turkish support paved the way for the Berlin conference and revived the political process to solve the Libyan crisis.
The Turkish President stressed the need for the unity of institutions and armed groups and national reconciliation, and called on the international community to sincerely support Libya in holding its by-elections on December 24, 2021.
He also expressed his hope that the stage of abuse of the conflict in Libya will end with the aim of achieving achievements that contradict the interests of Libyans by supporting illegal parties.
The Turkish President also talked about the issue of the Eastern Mediterranean at the press conference, saying that Turkey always considers the Mediterranean a place of peace and comfort.
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During the meeting, which discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations, especially investments, Erdogan stressed that the memorandum is in Libya’s national interest.
“From now on, we must heal wounds in Libya, rebuild, grow and console our brothers in Libya,” he said.
Turkey will provide various support to Libya in its infrastructure and reconstruction.
Erdogan said that the two sides have a common vision to accelerate the return of the Turkish private sector to Libya, and that these issues will be discussed in detail in a meeting between Dabaiba with Turkish businessmen.
“We will take immediate steps to further enhance cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, health, finance, local governance, education and culture,” he said.
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Erdogan also said that Turkey will deliver 150,000 doses of the Coronavirus vaccine to Libya from Tuesday.
He added that Ankara will quickly share its experience in combating Corona, including the field of medicine, and will build a hospital for epidemic diseases in Tripoli.
He added that Turkey plans to reopen its consulate in Benghazi in good conditions, and that his country will continue to support efforts to rebuild the Libyan defense industry and its security and military services.
He concluded by saying, “Together, we will work for peace, stability and prosperity for Libya.”
The Prime Minister of the Libyan National Unity Government arrived in Turkey today, Monday, at the head of a high-level delegation consisting of 14 ministers.
