Turkey, Russia to continue talks for truce in Libya

By Sena Guler

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey will continue talks with Russia to reach a lasting cease-fire in Libya, said Turkey’s foreign minister on Monday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have “agreed to continue working together to establish a lasting cease-fire in Libya,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint press conference alongside his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, who is visiting the Turkish capital Ankara.

Libya’s government, which enjoys recognition by the UN, has been under attack by warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence.

After launching a counter-offensive in March against attacks on the capital, Libya’s army recently liberated strategic locations, including the Al-Watiya airbase and Tarhuna, viewed as a significant blow to Haftar's forces.

Zarif’s visit to Ankara is the first by a foreign minister in months, since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

- Flights with Iran to resume

Turkey and Iran plan to resume flights on Aug. 1 after a months-long hiatus due to the virus outbreak, according to Cavusoglu.

Zarif, for his part, thanked Turkey for its support helping Iran fight the pandemic.

Before the press conference, the two top diplomats signed a memorandum of understanding on their respective diplomatic and consular promises.