Russia Concerned over Turkey’s Motion To Authorize Sending Troops to Libya

Jan. 3, 2020 (EIRNS)—Russia has expressed concern about the Turkish Parliament passing a motion to authorize the Muslim Brotherhood’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to send troops to support Libya’s Tripoli-based Muslim Brotherhood Government of National Accord under Fayez al-Sarraj, which is currently in conflict with the Benghazi-based government of Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani. Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky said Russia has always supported a diplomatic solution of the Libyan crisis through the efforts of the UN and international community.

Russian Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Abdullah al-Thani spoke by phone, at al-Thani’s request. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported about the call that

“Russia reaffirmed its consistent stance in favor of resolving all issues on the national agenda in Libya through an inclusive intra-Libyan dialogue with the ultimate goal of creating single effective government agencies in the country that would ensure Libya’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

Similarly, Algeria’s newly elected Prime Minister Sabri Boukadoum said yesterday his country is going to propose new initiatives in the coming days for peaceful solutions to the crisis in Libya, and reiterated Algeria’s rejection of the presence of any foreign forces of any sort, in neighboring Libya. He made his remark in the context of sending a humanitarian aid convoy to Libya, reported Algerian Press Service.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry and parliament both condemned the Turkish motion, concerned that it marks a serious escalation of the Libya situation. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry had separate phone calls on Jan. 2 with the Saudi, Greek, Cypriot, and U.A.E. foreign ministers, and with U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, to tell them that Turkey’s decision is a serious escalation, threatening security and peace and further complicating the situation in Libya. It also threatens Egypt’s national security in particular, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez, according to Egypt Today. Hafez further stated that the officials agreed during the phone calls on the dangerous consequences of this development for Arab national security, regional security, the security of the Mediterranean, and on the stability of the entire region, which requires taking all measures to protect Arab interests.

Egypt also charged the that Turkey is supporting terrorist organizations that are being transported from Syria to Libya.

On Jan. 2, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, fiercely opposed to the Muslim Brotherhood, held a meeting with the Egyptian National Security Council to discuss the latest developments.