Libyan speaker describes Erdogan’s words as ‘justification for aggression’

CAIRO - 26 December 2019: Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh denounced the statements of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan on Libya having a million Turkish citizens, describing his words as a justification for a Turkish military aggression against Libya.

Saleh reiterated that Libya is an independent UN member state, stressing that the statements of Erdogan are “irresponsible” and compose a backlash against the principles of international peace and security, and a restoration of the ideology of colonization. Saleh added that Turkey’s acts would provoke conflicts in North Africa and the Mediterranean, bringing woes to the region’s peoples.

The speaker demanded the international community to adopt an uncompromising stance on such statements, urging the Arab League to condemn the policies of the Turkish regime and its futile attempts to cause strife among the Libyan people and create pretexts for a military intervention in Libya.

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan stated that troops will be sent to Libya upon the request of the interim government in Tripoli and that the parliament is expected to pass the decree on January 8.

On Thursday, the Turkish gazette published the endorsement of the MoU on military and security cooperation signed by Turkey and the Government of National Accord (GNA) on November 27 announcing its enactment. On December 21, the Turkish parliament’s plenary session approved the MoU’s endorsement.