On Thursday, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at a time when Turkish-backed reconciliation forces were continuing their field progress against the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Hifter, amid a shift in the Russian position.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met the Prime Minister of the Libyan National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, at the Republican Palace in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
The two parties discussed the latest developments in the Libyan arena, and the steps that can be taken in the eastern Mediterranean region during the coming period.
At a joint press conference with al-Sarraj, Erdogan pledged support for the reconciliation government in all directions. "We want a united Libya and we look forward to wise decisions by the government in this direction," he said.
The Turkish president stressed the necessity of Libya's unity and resolving the current conflict through a new political process under the auspices of the United Nations.
Retired Major General Khalifa Haftar described the coup d'état, who "showed his true face with his attacks," and there are countries and governments that support Haftar, who say to them: We cannot support a figure who tried to destroy the Libyan meat. It was this person who tore up the Libyan fabric. "
The Turkish President praised what the Al-Sarraj government did to serve the Libyan community, and affirmed its readiness to cooperate with it in the fields of trade and economy. He appealed to the international community to support the legitimate government and stop selling the revolutionaries to Libyan oil.
"According to the agreement between us, we have decided to carry out an exploration operation at sea. There is cooperation in this field," the Turkish president said.
He addressed the Libyan people, saying, "We will continue to support the legitimate parties, we will not leave you to the putschists, and we will continue to support you in all fields. We also support international initiatives to achieve peace."
As for the Libyan Prime Minister, Fayez Al-Sarraj, he thanked the Turkish President "for his courageous stance and his standing with the Libyan people and his legitimate government against the putschists."
Al-Sarraj confirmed, "The liberation of Tripoli in a historical epic with heroes." "I told Erdogan that our battle continues and we are determined to defeat the putschists and we will not sit with the war criminal," he added.
Al-Sarraj stressed that there is no solution except by returning to the legitimacy of the people, and assured that his government will not waive the trial of every person who has been criminalized against the Libyan people.
Addressing the countries that support Haftar, he said: "You lost on the walls of Tripoli ... stop supporting you."
"Libya possesses the foundations of the renaissance. We have an opportunity for fruitful cooperation and we look forward to cooperating with you and the return of Turkish companies and investments to Libya," said the head of the Al-Wefaq government.
For its part, Reuters news agency reported that the two allies are seeking to preserve the gains made on the battlefield near Tripoli recently, ahead of a new round of talks on a possible ceasefire.
Turkey began providing military support to the Saraj government in November, after signing a military cooperation agreement and an agreement to demarcate the sea border, which would grant Ankara drilling rights in the Mediterranean, which Greece and other countries opposed.
Turkish support in the conflict over the past months has contributed to repelling the forces of eastern Libya led by Khalifa Haftar, supported by the Emirates, Russia and Egypt, which launched a year-long attack on the capital, Tripoli.
Decision and progress
The meeting of Al-Sarraj and Erdogan comes a day after the forces of the reconciliation government regained control of the main airport in Tripoli and announced the expulsion of Haftar forces from the administrative borders of the capital.
A senior Turkish official said that control of the airport was very important ahead of possible peace talks, adding that Turkey would reject any proposal to divide Libya between two rival parties.
Local websites and news channels broadcast images showing a massive deployment of the Al-Wefaq government forces in the most prominent sites that were under the control of Haftar forces south of Tripoli.
It also published pictures showing the progress of military units for the Al-Wefaq government forces within the administrative borders of the city of Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli.
Earlier, the Al-Wefaq forces took control of the Qasr Bin Ghashir area and the Thursday market, Emsehel, south of Tripoli.
A source for the island said that Al-Wefaq forces were hunting Haftar fighters in these areas. The source added that Al-Wefaq forces are approaching control of the mouth gate of Malaga, the main entrance to Tarhuna city.
Reuters news agency quoted a military source in Haftar forces as saying that these forces withdrew from all the outskirts of Tripoli towards the city of Tarhuna, southeast of the capital.In this context, activists posted on social media, scenes of the withdrawal of a convoy of African mercenaries from the city of Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli.
Military sources suggested that the island would go to southern Libya, and that it would not support Haftar's forces holed up inside the city of Tarhuna.
For its part, the Libyan Justice and Construction Party praised the completion of the liberation of the capital, Tripoli, on Thursday, considering that the victor is the entire homeland, and "only defeat for the authoritarian military project."
"We congratulate the liberation of the capital, we commend the sacrifices of the heroes, and we continue to support the Al-Wefaq government, and it must upgrade its performance in line with what has been achieved and what the next stage requires," said party chief Mohamed Sawan.
Russian position
and from Moscow, Libyan Vice-President of the Presidential Council Ahmed Mitik stressed that Libya will witness in the coming period the easing of the military escalation, "thanks to the Russian diplomacy that will work on this with the Libyan side."
Mu'tiq explained that he met officials in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense and security institutions, pointing to his conviction that Russia is a very important partner in the stability of Libya.
The Sputnik agency quoted Maitiq as saying that Moscow confirmed that it is against a military solution, and that a political solution is the basis.
Regarding the Russian detainees, Moutaiq said that a clear statement will be issued by the Libyan Attorney General's office in the next few days.