Egyptian-European efforts to stop Turkish intervention in Libya

Amira El-sharif

In continuation of its role in standing next to Libya against Turkish interference, Cairo is making contacts with European countries to stop the Turkish incursion towards Sirte and adhere to stopping the Turkish incursion.

Media reports indicated that Egypt informed European countries that Sirte was a buffer zone, which was denied access by the armed militias of Al-Wefaq and the Turkish forces.

It was reported that France, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and other NATO countries support the cessation of hostilities and the Turkish withdrawal from Sirte, revealing international consultations so that there are areas within Libya where any fighting, landing, or sending of forces by the Accord and Turkish forces is prohibited, where there are European countries that Turkey has warned against The incursion is aimed at reaching the oil regions of Libya.

Al-Hadath channel revealed that there are consultations to send international observers to supervise the presence of buffer zones.

For its part, the Arab League called for the exit of militias and foreign forces from Libya, and a statement of Arab foreign ministers stressed the importance of a political solution to the Libyan crisis, while welcoming all initiatives for a political solution and the role of the Libyan neighborhood countries in ending the conflict and rejecting foreign interference, and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Libya.

The statement refused to transfer extremists and terrorists to Libya, and demanded an international obligation for external parties not to send mercenaries to Libya.

For its part, the Pentagon called on all Libyan warring parties to return to the political track instead of the current conflict.

It also called on the Ministry of Defense to end foreign military interventions, and to immediately examine the possibility of stopping the shooting process in the country.

To this, Tunisian President Qais Said said in statements to the French newspaper Le Monde, that his country refuses to divide Libya, stressing that it is one of those most affected by the Libyan crisis, that the legitimacy in Libya must be respected, but this is not a blank check, he said.

In his statements, Saeed indicated that the Libyan tribes should be grouped into a national dialogue that ends with a constitution to be agreed upon.

The Tunisian president also stressed that the balance of power in Libya had changed with the entry of America and Russia into the equation.

The repercussions of the Libyan crisis and its repercussions on the Tunisian interior were evident in President Qais Said’s recent speeches.

During his participation in the commemoration of the resurgence of the national army, Saeed made new statements that were considered as a continuation of the approach that had recently been painted, as he said that his country is not a proponent of wars but will fight the battles when imposed on them against the nation’s enemies at home and abroad.

This position was preceded by statements described to the president during the visit to France, which were broadcast by France 24, in which he condemned external interventions aimed at returning Tunisia back, and also warned of attempts to divide Libya, which would reflect negatively on his country and the Algerian neighbor.

He added to this during a conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which he criticized the Libyan government of Al-Wefaq, indicating that it bears temporary legitimacy and must be replaced by a new authority.

This series of statements sparked a wave of criticism against Saeed among the Justice and Construction Party, the Brotherhood’s arm in Libya.

On the field level, the Libyan army spokesman, Ahmed Al-Mesmari, confirmed that Turkish aircraft continue to transport weapons to Misurata and Maitika.

On the other hand, the website “Etamel Radar” monitored new Turkish military reinforcements in Libya, and said that Turkey had pushed two C-130E military planes, which the site monitored, heading from Istanbul to Misurata.

Al-Mesmari accused Erdogan of working for the intelligence services of other countries, adding that “Erdogan defies the desire of the international community to stop the ceasefire in Libya,” noting that Turkish airlines continue their flights to Misurata, and that Turkish military cargo planes are transporting weapons to Libya.

Al-Mesmari confirmed that there are Turkish naval military blocks off the western coast of Libya.

This comes as the Al-Wefaq government acknowledged for the first time that violations occurred in the Libyan city of Tarhuna, and the Minister of Interior of the Al-Wefaq government, Fathi Pashaga, said that what was done by members of the security institutions in the Al-Wefaq government is a violation of human rights, according to what was reported by the Libyan Free Channel.

The Libyan army rejected Turkish conditions for a ceasefire, and the army’s air force fighters combed the area from Sirte to Hicha, while military sources denied any targeting from the militias.

Libyan army sources confirmed that the conditions are under their full control, by air and land, east of the city of Misurata.