War in Libya 'to be endless if Turkey doesn't intervene'

There will be no end to the war in Libya if we do not stop it, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said, adding that Ankara is opposed to mercenaries coming to Libya. "Our aim is to establish a ceasefire as soon as possible and to contribute to the revival of the political process and to accelerate it,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that the only means of solution is the political solution.

Duvar English/Anadolu Agency

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said that the war in Libya will be endless if Ankara doesn't intervene, as he commented on Turkish troop deployment in the war-ravaged country.

"There will be no end to the war in Libya if we do not stop it," Çavuşoğlu said on Jan. 6.

The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, has been under sustained attack since April by Khalifa Haftar, whose self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) supports a rival administration based in the east of the country.

Turkish parliament approves motion on sending troops to LibyaTurkish parliament approves motion on sending troops to Libya

Turkey’s parliament on Jan. 2 approved the deployment of troops to Libya after it received a request for military support from Sarraj’s government, which is recognized by the international community.

Turkey opposes mercenaries

Later in the day, Çavuşoğlu said that Ankara is opposed to mercenaries coming to Libya as they will deter efforts to maintain peace and stability.

"We are against mercenaries coming to Libya. We think mercenaries cannot bring peace and stability,” he said during a joint news conference with South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Awut Deng Acuil following their bilateral meeting in the capital Ankara.

Libya's Haftar declares 'jihad' against Turkish troopsLibya's Haftar declares 'jihad' against Turkish troops

“However, our aim is to establish a ceasefire as soon as possible and to contribute to the revival of the political process and to accelerate it,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that the only means of solution is the political solution.

He also emphasized that Turkey supports the dialogue between Sudan and South Sudan where they went through a similar process.

'Permission from Turkey, Libya required'

The Foreign Minister also criticized plans for the EastMed pipeline project.

"If Israel wants to transfer oil or natural gas extracted from its continental shelf and territorial waters to third countries across our continental shelf, then Israel must negotiate with us," he said, adding that permission from both Turkey and Libya is required for EastMed to cross the Mediterranean towards Europe.

EU 'concerned' about Turkish parliament's decision on LibyaEU 'concerned' about Turkish parliament's decision on Libya

Last week Greece, Israel, and Greek Cypriot administration inked an agreement for the EastMed pipeline project.

The project envisions a 1,900-kilometer-long natural gas pipeline through the Mediterranean Sea from Israel to the Greek island of Crete, Greece's mainland, and then to Italy.

'Soleimani assassination threatens peace'

Turning to the issue of the assassination of Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani, Çavuşoğlu said that the killing threatens peace throughout the region.

"The killing of Soleimani poses a serious risk to peace in the region,” he said.

“We will work with other countries to reduce tensions between the U.S. and Iran,” Çavuşoğlu added.

Noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to Turkey on Jan. 8, Çavuşoğlu said: "Our president and Putin will address these issues personally. We all have a common concern that Iraq should not turn into a conflict zone for other countries."

Soleimani was killed along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the senior commander of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi force, and eight others on Jan. 3.