Holding a joint press conference with President Saied of Tunisia, President Erdoğan said: "We see Tunisia as an element of stability in the region. No doubt that Tunisia will provide very important and constructive contributions to the efforts to establish stability in Libya."

"Turkey favors stronger relations with Tunisia"

Noting that he told his Tunisian counterpart during their meeting that Turkey wants its bilateral relations with Tunisia to grow stronger in every area from economy, culture and tourism to politics and military, President Erdoğan said that Turkey will continue to stand by Tunisia as it has done so far.  

Stating that the importance of stability in Libya for the entire region, particularly for the neighboring countries such as Tunisia, was underscored during the meeting, President Erdoğan said that nearly 500 thousand people’s migration towards the south of Tunisia constitutes a heavy burden for the country, a situation similar to the one facing Turkey in that Turkey also is currently home to nearly 4 million Syrian refugees.

"Tunisia is an element of stability in its region"

Describing Tunisia as an element of stability in its region, President Erdoğan underscored: "No doubt that Tunisia will provide very important and constructive contributions to the efforts to establish stability in Libya."

Answering reporters’ questions, President Erdoğan emphasized that he deems it a shortcoming that Algeria, Tunisia and Qatar are not included in the Berlin process, and that he shared this view of his with German, Russian and British leaders, too. 

Asked about remarks to the effect that Turkey can dispatch troops to Libya, President Erdoğan drew attention to the memorandum on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas and the agreement on military and security cooperation signed off on following talks in Istanbul with Libya’s internationally-recognized Prime Minister Fayez Al Sarraj, and said: "Both the memorandum and the agreement have been ratified by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. We will maintain the process in this manner. It is out of the question for Greece to have any say here." (ILKHA)