Addressing AK Party’s provincial heads, Erdoğan, referring to the agreement signed with Libya, said: "Our aim in the Mediterranean is not to usurp the rights of anyone, but, on the contrary, to prevent our rights from being usurped. If we had not taken this step, a scheme was being cooked up to confine Turkey to its coastlines. It was of course out of the question for us to remain silent in the face of these schemes which would have hindered us even from casting a fishing rod from the coast."

 "European countries should assume responsibility in order to ensure tranquility in Idlib"

Mentioning the regime’s attacks and harassments in Idlib, Erdoğan said: "Nearly 100 thousand people fleeing these attacks have started to move towards our borders. We have told the entire world, Europe in particular, that we cannot handle a new wave of migrants, and that all will eventually suffer if Turkey’s efforts in Idlib are not supported. European countries should assume responsibility, too, in order to ensure tranquility in Idlib, where almost 4 million people live."

"Our agreement with libya is in line with the international law"

Also referring to the agreement signed with Libya, Erdoğan stressed: "Our aim with this agreement is not to usurp the rights of anyone in the Mediterranean, but, on the contrary, to prevent our rights from being usurped. If we had not taken this step, a scheme was being cooked up to confine Turkey to its coastlines. It was of course out of the question for us to remain silent in the face of these schemes which would have hindered us even from casting a fishing rod from the coast. What is more, our step is totally in line with the international law and similar initiatives in other parts of the world."

About the military support deal Turkey and Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) signed on Nov. 27, Erdogan said a motion for military support to Libya will be submitted to the Turkish parliament when it opens after recess

With the outbreak of the second Libyan Civil War, Turkey remains supportive of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli, against Haftar-based House of Representatives in Tobruk. Haftar's vehement anti-Turkish stance had contributed to ongoing hostility between Turkey and Tobruk Government as well as Turkey has transported weapons and ammunitions to the government in Tripoli.

Turkey accused indirectly Haftar as the troublemaker who wanted to prevent peace for Libya and had left the conference for peace in Libya in November 2018. Haftar had remained as belligerent against Turkey, led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Tobruk-based forces often seized Turkish ships transporting arms to the army in Tripoli.

The failure of the government held in Tripoli could be seen as a political setback of Erdoğan, since Turkey had thrown a great depth of weight and aids to them. Following the 2019 Western Libya offensive led by Haftar, Turkey had shown deep concerns and secretly condemned Haftar for destabilizing Libya.

 In November 2019, Turkey stated that it signed an agreement with Libya’s internationally recognized government on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to a deal on security and military cooperation. (ILKHA)