İSTANBUL - Journalist Vecih Cuzdan evaluated the Libya policy of the Turkish government saying, "Due to the policies of conquer followed in Libya, Turkey will not only have to come up against its neighboring countries, but also be pushed into such a position where it may compromise its natural rights in the Mediterranean."
The Libyan Civil War among rival factions seeking control of Libya. have been continuing since 2014 after the death of Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. Since the ouster of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya; one in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and another in Tripoli, Government of National Accord (GNA) which enjoys UN and international recognition. On November 27, 2019 Ankara and Libya's United Nations (UN)-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) signed a pact on military cooperation, as well as a pact on maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean as the Turkish parliament ratified a motion authorizing the government on sending troops to Libya.
We talked about Libya, which has become the “Red Line” of the regional and global powers and where balances are changing rapidly, with journalist Vecih Cuzdan.
THE POSITIONS OF THE POWERS IN LIBYA
“With Russia's Hmeymim Air Base and Tartus Naval Base in Syria, it is dominated in the Mediterranean. Therefore, Russia has a position to make a decision that cannot be made without Russia," said Cuzdan emphasizing that the development in the region are important for the eastern neighbor of Libya, Egypt and the Gulf monarchies.
Cuzdan also stated that France sees Libya in a strategic position due to the influence in the African continent and therefore claims rights for the region.
'SIRTE AND THE AL-JUFRA BASES WILL CHANGE THE BALANCES'
Referring to the balance-changing importance of Sirte and the al-Jufra base Cuzdan said, "This is such an undeniable truth. The Operation Peace Storm as they call it which was launched by Turkey changed the course of the war, yes, but this does not mean that it has also changed the balances. What changes the balances in Libya is Sirte and the Al-Jufra bases."
Saying that there were two important developments in June, Cuzdan first referred to the the Cairo Declaration, which was led by Sisi on June 6. Cuzdan stated that the second important development was the announcement of Hafter's shelter of the Suheyrat Agreement signed under the leadership of the United Nations on June 27.
WHY IS SIRTE SO IMPORTANT?
Underlining that Turkey-backed GNA said that 'Sirte and Al-Jufra is our red line and all the powers on the battle field claims Sirte and Al-Jufre as their 'red line' Cuzdan stated that Sirte might be a conflict zone where the regional and international powers would confront face to face.
'TURKEY FOLLOWS A HOSTILE POLICY OF CONQUER'
"Turkey follows a policy of conquer hostile to all the peoples living in the region," said Cuzdan and added, "This conquering language unites the forces in conflict in the region. For example, the statement of Sisi saying that they are ready for a military intervention. It should be noted that it is not only Egypy when Egypt takes the field. Egypt is the heart and the voice of the Arabs. That is why such a rhetoric of Turkey in Libya results in the such a reaction from the Arab Union. Egypt's taking the battle field against Turkey may unite the Arabs."
AT THE END OF THE DAY...
"Nothing can be achieved damaging international relations with such self-ordanined attitudes as of Turkey. "Due to the policies of conquer followed in Libya, Turkey will not only have to come up against its neighboring countries, but also be pushed into such a pusition where it may compromise its natural rights in the Mediterranean," said Cuzdan as he finally noted that there is no solution seen in the horizon in the short term for Libya and there would be handicaps of an operation that would be launched to Sirte and the al-Jufra bases without international support.
MA / Naci Kaya - Kadir Güney