The Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said Thursday that Turkey’s military training support for Libya’s legitimate government cannot be compared with foreign fighters and mercenaries.
Cavusoglu told a joint news conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Berlin that foreign mercenaries should not be confused with legitimate Turkish forces training Libya’s military under a pact with the legitimate government.
Cavusoglu added that there are many foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya and Turkey agrees on their withdrawal.
He also warned that calling on Ankara to end its support for Libya’s government would in fact undermine this legitimate government.
Cavusoglu reiterated that the agreement between the two sovereign countries addresses essential needs of Libya with regards to military training and consultancy, stressing that ending Turkish support would not be in favor of Libya.
“Calls from third parties to end the agreement between Libya and Turkey would not be the correct approach.” Cavusoglu indicated.
He also explained that Libya’s newly formed government should be supported to help prepare the country for elections later this year and meet public needs.
The MoUs of maritime and military cooperation that Libya signed with Turkey on November 27, 2019, tilted the balance to the then-government of national accord and helped repel the offensive on Tripoli by Khalifa Haftar’s militias.
