Turkey and Libya step up cooperation

Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah posing with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the signing of an agreement between the two countries, Monday April 12, 2021 in Ankara.

© PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE / via REUTERS

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5 mins

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received the Prime Minister of the new Libyan government Abdel Hamid Dbeibah on Monday.

A large-scale visit: 14 ministers and several senior officials accompanied the head of the Libyan government.

On the program, enhanced economic cooperation, particularly in the field of hydrocarbons.

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During a joint press conference held in the early evening, Recep Tayyip Erdogan first recalled Turkey's commitment to respect "

 the integrity and sovereignty of Libyan territory

 ".

Despite accusations and requests for withdrawal from the international community, Ankara has never officially recognized the presence of Turkish mercenaries on Libyan soil.

The Turkish president then announced a series of cooperation with Libya.

First of all military to " 

stop the massacres

 " and avoid the fall of Tripoli, then health with in particular the donation of 150,000 doses of vaccines against Covid-19 and finally economic with the promise of massive investment on the part of companies Turkish.

Maintenance of the agreement on resources in the Mediterranean

Another important announcement is the imminent reopening of the Turkish consulate in Benghazi in the east of the country while this area is still under the control of Marshal Haftar.

But also the maintenance of the controversial agreement on the exploitation of maritime resources, negotiated in 2019 by the predecessor of

Abdel Hamid Dbeibah

, Fayez el-Sarraj.

In his speech, the Libyan Prime Minister, for his part, underlined the importance of Turkey's role in ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Libya and assured that Turkish companies would play an important role in the reconstruction of the country.

Few European states are willing to invest in Libya.

Turkey is a stunt country.

It is a country that dares to inject millions into the Libyan market.

And this opening up to the Libyan market will place Ankara as a partner state.

Asni Abidi, researcher specializing in Libya

Victor Mauriat

►Also listen: Decryption - Towards lasting peace in Libya?

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