Many questions arise about the map of the rapid field developments in Libya, the role of Turkey and its arms there, and how Ankara manages its relations with other active forces there .. We carried these and other questions to Yassin Akta مستشار, advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Aktaay confirmed - in an exclusive interview with Al-Jazeera Net - that the Turkish fighting marches turned the battles in favor of the government forces of Al-Wefaq and contributed to the defeat of the forces of the retired Major General Khalifa Hifter quickly from the Libyan West, noting that the reason for the non-resolution of Sirte until this moment is due to the use of the forces of Haftar Libyan civilians as human shields There, the legitimate al-Wefaq government forces, backed by Turkish planes, are slow to take over the city to save civilian lives.
"It is highly desirable that there will be an understanding with Russia in Libya along the lines of Syria, but on the condition that Tripoli agrees," said Akti, a university professor of sociology and senior advisor to the ruling Justice and Development Party leader.
He noted that the details of the understanding with US President Donald Trump will be announced in due course, but the superiority of the Al-Wefaq government has brought Trump closer to the Turkish vision of resolving the conflict there.
"Abu Dhabi stands in the face of any Egyptian cooperation with us in the Eastern Mediterranean, even if it is at the expense of the interest of the Egyptians," he added.
The following is the text of the interview:
What is the nature of the Turkish role in Libya in light of the rapid field and political developments there?
What is happening in Libya is a coup that is not from the inside but from the outside, just as the conflict in Libya is not a conflict between the Libyans among them, but rather is imposed on them from the outside as a kind of expansion, domination and occupation, and what are the presence of the Russians, French, Egyptians and mercenaries from Sudan and Chad in the territory of Libya - as well On Emirati and Saudi funding - except to steal Libyan wealth and harm Turkey's interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey from the beginning, with the independence and territorial integrity of the Libyan people, so we have fulfilled the request of the legitimate, recognized government of the United Nations to come and help it in the face of the coup and external occupation, after signing the Joint Defense Agreement.
And based on the border demarcation agreement signed by Turkey and Libya, the two countries will benefit from extracting gas and oil, and the agreement is beneficial to Egypt's interests, but the hatred and hostility of the Egyptian regime to Turkey pushed it to ward off benefit and bring harm to its people.
Turkey did not come to fight Egypt or any regional country, but rather to defend its interests, knowing that the Egypt and Greece agreement harms the interests of both Egypt and Turkey.
Are there Turkish soldiers in Libya taking part in the battles there?
There are no Turkish soldiers in Libya, but there are military, technical, and technical advisors who went to Libya with a mandate from the Ministry of Defense, where they play an important role in assisting the reconciliation government forces.
If the Al-Wefaq government asked you soldiers to take part in the battles, would you send?
Yes, if they ask, we will send our soldiers, so Turkey is ready to help to the fullest extent.
By following you, what is the reason behind the retirement of the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar quickly the past few days? And how did the Turkish weapon affect the course of the battles there?
The large areas controlled by Haftar forces, mostly desert, did not require the presence of large armies and was sufficiently controlled by air, so when Turkish combat marches entered - based on the Joint Defense Agreement - the battles were turned in favor of the government forces of reconciliation and contributed to the rapid defeat of Haftar forces from the Libyan West .
In spite of the use of Haftar forces, the Russian air defense system, "Panser", with Emirati funding, the Turkish marches destroyed in a short time 18 of them and other weapons.
In addition, the inhabitants of the areas controlled by Haftar's forces supported the legitimate government forces because Haftar had no roots in the Libyan people, and most of those fighting with him were mercenaries.
Al-Wefaq forces are still in their locations overlooking the city of Sirte, why were they unable to resolve them as quickly as other regions?
The reason why Sirte has not been resolved until this moment is because Haftar forces are using Libyan civilians as human shields there, so the legitimate government forces supported by Turkish planes are slow to purify the city in order to preserve civilian lives, so liberating the city after its destruction is over the heads of its residents as Haftar does not gain.
Will the Al-Wifaq government forces, after the liberation of Sirte, transfer the fighting to Benghazi and eastern Libya?
I think that the Al-Wefaq government will control the entire soil of Libya, but not by war but by dialogue, especially since the people of Benghazi will take sides with legitimacy and will not stand next to the coup and external occupation.
In dialogue with Haftar, who controls the Benghazi area and eastern Libya !?
No, not with Haftar, who will not have any role in the future of Libya, and we have agreed with some of the forces active in the Libyan file on this issue.
There is information about Russia's request by the reconciliation forces not to advance towards Sirte and to be stationed in its vicinity, but Fayez al-Sarraj gave instructions to advance and invade the city. How true is that?
Yes, we have information about the Russian desire, but we support the government of reconciliation in the return of Sirte.
What is the possibility of Turkey's understanding with Russia in Libya similar to Syria?
It is very likely that an understanding with Russia will take place along the lines of Syria, but after the approval of the legitimate government of al-Sarraj.
What about the Russian company Wagner fighting next to Haftar?
Its presence is illegal, and I believe it is the government of Abu Dhabi that funds it to sow chaos in Libya.
President Erdogan stated that an understanding was reached with his American counterpart on Libya. What was the understanding?
Details of the understanding with Trump will be announced in due course, but the developments needed this understanding, especially since the American position is compatible with the Turkish in many points, and differs from the Russian and French positions, and it must be noted that Trump 6 months ago was communicating with Haftar as a party Key in leading the Libyan people, but after the Al-Wefaq government exceled in supporting Turkey, it brought it close to the Turkish vision to solve the conflict there.
I said the beginning of the dialogue that there are common interests between Turkey and Egypt on the Mediterranean. Do you communicate with Cairo? What prevents a direct dialogue with it to resolve the Eastern Mediterranean crisis?
Turkey and Egypt have common interests in the international waters of the Mediterranean, so it is best to turn a blind eye to the differences between us on this issue. When we disagree on an issue, it is not wise to be enemies on all issues. For example, we agree with Russia on matters and disagree on issues Other.
But Abu Dhabi strengthens the dispute between Egypt and Turkey and stands in the face of any Egyptian cooperation with us in the eastern Mediterranean, even if it is at the expense of the interests of the Egyptians, and this is a kind of aggression, as the UAE has an agenda and behaviors that are not appropriate to the logic of the state, and it believes that it benefits from igniting sedition and destabilization .
The UAE is hostile to Turkey because it stood with the revolutions of the Arab peoples, and we in Turkey represent the will of our people and there is opposition that criticizes us and even curses us with full freedom.
The UAE supported the coup in Turkey and supported the coups in all Islamic countries.
Greece and Italy signed an agreement to demarcate maritime borders in the Mediterranean, such as what happened between Libya and Turkey. Will it harm Ankara's interests in researching and exploring for oil and gas?
Italy and Greece have had a dispute and deal for their common interests, and as long as their agreement does not include aggression against Turkey's rights, we respect them.