Turkey held talks in its capital Ankara between the governments of East and West Libya, with the ultimate goal of achieving unity between the two sides, but they have not yet reached a specific agreement.
Main Topics of the Talks
A senior Turkish official familiar with the details of the talks stated that discussions were primarily focused on military integration, and the topic of political unity is expected to be addressed in later stages.
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The discussions were attended by military officials from both governments as well as diplomats, with Turkey acting as a mediator between the two sides. Libya has faced instability since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and is currently divided between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival government in the East supported by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Turkey's Relations with Both Sides of Libya
Throughout the years of conflict in Libya, Turkey has strongly supported the government based in Tripoli, but in recent years its relations with Eastern officials have significantly improved. Ankara is one of the few countries that has engaged with both sides in Libya.
On Friday, Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, stated that the time has come for the rival governments of East and West Libya to come closer together again, and that good news on this matter may be announced soon. He told reporters, "We have now reached a stage where the conditions for a permanent unity of East and West are ready."
He also added, "One of the most important pillars of national unity is how the military units that are currently controlled separately will come under a single umbrella." Last week, the parliament based in East Libya also approved an agreement with Turkey regarding the determination of maritime borders, which occurred years after its initial rejection at the time of the initial signing.
This voting took place while Washington and the United Nations also emphasized the need for unity in this oil-rich country. The mentioned agreement faced negative reactions from Greece and Egypt, which claimed that it violates Cairo's rights in the Mediterranean.
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