Top Turkish officials visit Libya, meet with GNA officials

A high-ranking Turkish delegation visited Tripoli on June 17, with Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu as the head, accompanied by Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın, Chief of Intelligence Hakan Fidan. Upon the Turkish delegation's arrival back in Ankara, Çavuşoğlu said that they discussed a lasting ceasefire and political solution in Libya, as well as energy cooperation, during their visit.

Duvar English

Senior Turkish officials visited Tripoli on June 17 to meet Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) after helping it stave off an offensive by eastern-based forces.

The Turkish visit, not previously announced, included Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın and National Intelligence Organization head Hakan Fidan, the GNA said in a written statement, according to Anadolu Agency.

The Turkish delegation met with GNA Premier Fayez al-Sarraj, Foreign Minister Mohammed Sayala and other high-ranking officials.

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The GNA statement noted that both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties and their cooperation regarding the latest developments in the country.

Upon the Turkish delegation's arrival back in Ankara, Çavuşoğlu said that they discussed a lasting ceasefire and political solution in Libya, as well as energy cooperation, during their visit.

"The aim of our visit was to stress our support for Libya in a powerful way. We had an exchange of views on achieving a lasting ceasefire and a political solution," Çavuşoğlu told reporters late on June 17.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 revolution that toppled Muammar Gaddafi and has been split since 2014 between rival administrations in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi.

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Ankara's intervention led to a sudden shift in front lines this month as pro-GNA forces pushed back the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar, from most of northwest Libya towards the central coastal city of Sirte.

The GNA and LNA have returned to ceasefire talks, but the United Nations, which is brokering their discussions, has warned of a possible major escalation due to the flow of weapons and fighters into Libya despite an arms embargo.

The LNA still controls eastern Libya and much of the south, where some of the main oil fields, the source of most external revenue, are located.