Turkey: Arab League remains silent on Libya crisis

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - The Arab League remains silent, unable to demonstrate determination in support of the legitimate government in Libya, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Turkey has long supported political settlement in Libya and an end to attacks and the establishment of a complete ceasefire among the warring sides, spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

The statement came on the heels of an Arab League council meeting in Cairo on the ongoing conflict in Libya.

The league urged both the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and militias loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar not to enable external interference that "might worsen the conflict."

Aksoy stressed that a permanent and comprehensive political solution in Libya could be achieved by deterring those who would seek faits accomplis through military means, Aksoy stressed.

Turkey will continue to support the Tripoli-based government to achieve lasting peace and stability in Libya, Aksoy added.

It will continue to make every effort for the Libyan people to achieve lasting peace and stability.

Turkey's presidency on Monday submitted a motion to the Parliament Speaker's Office on sending troops to Libya. The parliament is set to debate the motion on Thursday.

On Nov. 27, Ankara and Libya's GNA signed two separate pacts: one on military cooperation and the other on maritime boundaries of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011 when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of long-serving President Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

Since then, Libya’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power -- one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli -- and a host of heavily-armed militia groups.