ZCZC
BFF-35
LIBYA-CONFLICT-TURKEY-DIPLOMACY
Turkey says ready to send troops to back Libya unity govt
ANKARA, Dec 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said Tuesday he was ready to send troops to Libya if requested by the
internationally recognised government in Tripoli.
“On the issue of sending soldiers… If Libya makes such a request from
us, we can send our personnel there, especially after striking the military
security agreement,” he said in a televised appearance.
Turkey signed a military agreement last month with Libya’s Government of
National Accord, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
It came after media reports that Russia had sent 200 mercenaries to
support Libya’s military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is seeking to unseat
the Tripoli-based government.
Russia has denied the reports, but Erdogan said: “There is a security
company from Russia (in Libya) called Wagner. This company sent its security
staff there.”
The Wagner Group is a shadowy private security firm and thousands of its
security contractors are believed to be in foreign conflicts from Syria to
Ukraine to the Central African Republic.
At the same time as the military deal, Turkey also signed a controversial
maritime jurisdiction agreement with Sarraj, giving sweeping rights for
Turkey to explore for oil in the Mediterranean.
“With the new line drawn (by the maritime agreement), we will take steps
to protect the interests of Libya, Turkey and the TRNC (Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus). This is in line with international law,” he said.
The deal has been staunchly opposed by Greece, Cyprus and their European
partners which says it violates the islands’ maritime rights.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1930 hrs