The Turkish parliament on Tuesday approved a motion calling for extension in troop deployment in Libya for another 18 months.
While the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) backed the motion, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and Good (IYI) Party voted against it.
“TURKEY WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONSULTANCY SUPPORT TO LIBYA”
“There are threats from Libya to Turkey and the entire region, and if attacks resume again, Turkey’s interests in the Mediterranean basin and North Africa will be adversely affected,” the motion said. It added that permanent peace, cease-fire which was agreed upon in October, and political dialogue in Libya is of great importance to Turkey.
“Turkey, within the Memorandum of Security and Military Cooperation signed with Libya, will continue to contribute to the training and consultancy support to Libya,” it said.
The proposal was submitted by the presidency last week, in the light of a request by Libya’s UN-recognized government for military assistance.
On Nov. 27, Ankara and Tripoli signed a pact on military cooperation, as well as an agreement on maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean.