Libyan Minister of Interior for Al-Jazeera Net: The security coordination between Libya, Tunisia and Algeria is in a rapid development

I interviewed him in Tunisia / Hayat Bin Hilal

On a short visit to Tunisia, the Libyan Minister of the Interior, Fathi Pashaga, held a press conference Thursday morning, during which he discussed the Libyan security situation in general.

Al-Jazeera Net seized the opportunity to have a short dialogue with the minister, who confirmed that the Libyan reconciliation government would welcome Turkish cooperation to achieve security in Tripoli and Libya as a whole, and said that security coordination between Tunisia, Algeria and Libya is in a steady development to achieve security in the region.

The following is the text of the interview:

It is said that the Libyan security situation is not disastrous as promoted by many media outlets. What is your comment on this as Minister of the Interior?

The security situation in Libya is between ebb and flow, especially after the attacks on the capital, Tripoli, and it is considered very delicate and sensitive, and we are trying hard to control the situation and achieve security in Libya.

What are the features of security cooperation between you and the United States, especially in what you called, earlier and after your return from the United States, the security dialogue between you and the Americans?

As for Libyan-American cooperation, it is mainly concerned with countering terrorism, organized crime, and illegal immigration that has worsened in recent years.

It is known that the Libyan crisis was exacerbated by the high frequency of regional and international interventions that fueled the conflict on Libyan soil. How do you think this can be resolved? What are the most prominent countries that fuel armed conflict with the support of parties that you deem to be illegitimate?

There are several foreign parties, including Arab ones, that have fueled the situation in Libya, and support Haftar's forces outside the legitimacy, but what we care about is what we achieve in the interest of our people with sister countries such as Tunisia, Algeria and Turkey.

Is it true what is said that the main cause of foreign intervention in Libya is economic, represented by the greed of international parties in the country's wealth, given the location of Libya and its oil resources, and its back garden to Europe? Or are there other reasons?

As for foreign intervention in Libya, it has gone beyond being an intervention caused by greed in our wealth, but rather much more dangerous, which is an attempt to control North African countries, and this is evidenced by the continuous attempts to occupy the capital Tripoli by Haftar and the countries that support it.

Insecurity in Libya is, at times, a concern for Tunisia's security services? Is there a security coordination between you and the Tunisian authorities?

Of course, there is a large security coordination between the Libyan Ministry of Interior and its Tunisian counterpart, and there is an exchange of information between the two parties, and there will be in the future larger programs, not only at the level of Tunisia, but even with Algeria, because Libya's security is among the security of Tunisia, as well as Algeria.

How do you read President Erdogan's statements in which he announced that Turkey will not stand idle about what is happening in Libya?

We are with those who will achieve the defense of Tripoli, the people of Tripoli, and the western region, and who can help bring security and stability to Libya, and we will not be shy if we submit a request for help from the Erdogan government, and we will not hesitate to it.

Your visit coincided with President Erdogan's visit to Tunisia. Is this related to security cooperation between Turkey and Libya in consultation with the Tunisian authorities, or is it just a coincidence?

There was no prior coordination regarding my visit to Tunisia and the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is just a coincidence.