Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşo أوlu said that retired Libyan Major General Khalifa Haftar must comply with calls for a political solution to the conflict in Libya and take steps to "calm the ground", stressing that his country aims to bring about a permanent ceasefire there.
The Turkish minister pointed out the importance of the Berlin conference on Libya, noting that the conference brought together several parties around one table, and important decisions were issued that won the support of all the parties involved.
He added, "Hifter's commitment to silence regarding the outputs of the Berlin conference and the previous refusal to sign the cease-fire agreement in Moscow has created a question mark for everyone."
The Turkish Foreign Minister pointed out that all the positions that have been issued from Haftar so far, indicate that he prefers a military solution to the political, considering that he must respond to the calls of the international community and accept the political solution.
"Haftar should immediately return to the path of a political solution and take concrete and positive steps, in line with the international community's calls for calm on the ground," added Gawishoglu.
In response to a question about Haftar's visit to Greece, Gawishoglu said that Athens is not an actor in Libya, and that it views the Libyan issue from a narrow perspective.
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that his country has not sent troops to Libya yet, but rather has sent advisers and trainers, stressing that the steps Ankara has taken on Libya have achieved a balance in the political track.
He added that his country will continue to support this political track in the field and at the negotiating table, noting that if the cease-fire is committed in Libya, the road will be paved for a political solution.
On Sunday, the Berlin conference on Libya took place, with the participation of 12 countries: the United States, Russia, France, Britain, China, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Egypt, the Emirates, Algeria and the Congo, and four international and regional organizations: the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and the Arab League.
Among the most prominent items of the conference’s final statement was the necessity to adhere to the ceasefire, to adhere to the United Nations resolution to ban the export of arms to Libya, and to establish a military committee to install and monitor the ceasefire, which includes five representatives from each of the parties to the conflict.
Hifter withdrew from talks in Moscow aimed at reaching a ceasefire last week, and his forces' blockade of oil fields clouded the summit hosted by Berlin on Sunday aimed at promoting a fragile truce.
Haftar's forces have launched an offensive since April 4 to take control of Tripoli, the headquarters of the internationally recognized Al-Wefaq government, which at that time aborted the efforts of the United Nations to hold a dialogue conference between the Libyans.