Too early to say ceasefire in Libya has collapsed – Turkish defense minister
Turkey said on Wednesday it was too early to say whether a ceasefire in Libya had collapsed after Khalifa Haftar, commander of eastern Libyan forces, failed to sign a binding truce accord this week.
Russo-Turkish talks in Moscow have aimed to halt Haftar’s nine-month campaign to seize the Libyan capital Tripoli from forces aligned with the internationally recognized government of Fayez al-Sarraj.
“We cannot say that the ceasefire has collapsed, it’s much too early for such an interpretation,” Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters in Ankara. He added that Ankara was awaiting the outcome of diplomacy by Moscow, Reuters reports. Turkey backs Sarraj’s government.
Turkey has sent a training and cooperation team which is now active in Libya, Akar said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday Turkey would “teach a lesson” to Haftar if his attacks on the Tripoli-based government continued. On Sunday, Germany will host a summit on Libya involving the rival camps.
Too early to say ceasefire in Libya has collapsed – Turkish defense minister