Erdoğan urges Europe to back Turkey's plans in Libya

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged European countries to back Ankara's plans in finding a solution to the conflict in Libya. "Europe finds itself at a crossroads. And at this historic junction, those working for peace must be courageous and do everything in their power to end violence. Europe can count on Turkey — an old friend and loyal ally — to achieve that goal," he said.

Duvar English/Reuters

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged European countries to back Ankara's plans regarding a solution in Libya, as world leaders are set to meet in Berlin to discuss the conflict in the war-torn country on Jan. 19.

"Keeping in mind that Europe is less interested in providing military support to Libya, the obvious choice is to work with Turkey, which has already promised military assistance," Erdoğan wrote in a column published on Politico, referring to Ankara's plans to deploy troops to Libya in support of the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

"We will train Libya’s security forces and help them combat terrorism, human trafficking and other serious threats against international security," he also said.

As fighting intensified between rival camps in Libya, Turkey's parliament on Jan. 2 approved a motion on deploying troops to Tripoli to rush to GNA leader Fayez al-Serraj's rescue against Khalifa Haftar-led Libyan National Army (LNA).

Up to 2,000 militants from Syria's war have also joined the battle to defend the capital, a U.N. official said on Jan. 18.

"The European Union’s potential failure to adequately support Libya’s Government of National Accord would be a betrayal of its own core values, including democracy and human rights. To leave Libya at the mercy of a warlord would be a mistake of historic proportions," Erdoğan said in the column.

'Europe at crossroads'

Saying that ISIS and al-Qaeda would find "a fertile ground to get back on their feet" if Libya's legitimate government were to fall, Erdoğan noted that Europe can count on Turkey in establishing peace.

"Europe finds itself at a crossroads. And at this historic junction, those working for peace must be courageous and do everything in their power to end violence. Europe can count on Turkey — an old friend and loyal ally — to achieve that goal," he added.

"Our European friends and allies need to understand that they cannot change the world simply by complaining and expressing concern. International law, democracy and human rights cannot be defended without assuming some responsibility," he also said.

Turkey starting troop deployment to LibyaTurkey starting troop deployment to Libya

Libyan rival camps and their foreign backers are set to attend a summit in Berlin on Jan. 19 to discuss ways to end a proxy war over the capital Tripoli and the oil producer, which has displaced 140,000 and now more than halved the country's crude output.

Germany and the United Nations hope to persuade Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to push their opposing camps to agree on a lasting truce in Tripoli, home to the internationally recognized government.

As with previous failed attempts, center stage of the one-day meeting will be occupied by eastern commander Haftar, who in April started a campaign to take Tripoli. Western powers hope this time to put pressure on him to continue a ceasefire that has largely held for one week.

Haftar on Jan. 13 walked out on a Russo-Turkish summit, in contrast with his rival Serraj, who signed a lasting truce proposal put forward to both leaders.

Haftar, a former general from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi toppled in 2011, appeared confident this week when German foreign minister Heiko Maas visited him at his base outside Benghazi to ask him to come to Berlin.

He leaned back in his chair while Maas was leaning towards him to make his peace pitch, a picture from the meeting showed.

Turkey 'sending 2,000 Syrian rebels to Libya'Turkey 'sending 2,000 Syrian rebels to Libya'

Haftar escalated the conflict on Jan. 17 when allied tribesmen shut down eastern oil ports, cutting oil production by 800,000 barrels a day. That will hit hard Tripoli, which benefits most from oil revenues.

The one-day summit, which will also bring together U.S. Secretary of States Mike Pompeo and European and Arab leaders, will not attempt to broker a power-sharing agreement between Haftar and Serraj.

Instead the focus is on a lasting ceasefire to restart talks.

Turkey slams Greece over Haftar invitation

Haftar is backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Jordan, Sudanese and Chadian fighters and most recently Russian mercenaries, which helped him gain a bit on the Tripoli front. France has also given some support.

"I mean this is a region wide conflict broadening, and looking increasingly like Syria which is why the whole international community is getting together in Germany," a senior U.S. state department official told reporters travelling with Pompeo.

Extremists are moving to Libya from Syria's Idlib: LavrovExtremists are moving to Libya from Syria's Idlib: Lavrov

Still, expectations were "moderate," the official added.

As the summit loomed, Erdoğan spoke by phone with its host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to discuss developments in Libya and the region, Erdoğan's office said.

In a sign of tensions surrounding the Libyan issue, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu criticized Greece for hosting Haftar ahead of the summit in a tweet directed at Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

"Inviting Haftar to Greece and highlighting Greek national agenda sabotage the efforts to bring peace to Libya. We would like to remind our Greek friends that these futile efforts are in vain. @NikosDendias," Çavuşoğlu wrote.