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Turkey rejects request for withdrawal of French troops from Libya Recep Tayyip Erdogan News

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A senior Turkish official said the Turkish presence in Libya had helped maintain stability in the North African country.

Turkey has condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s call on foreign powers to withdraw their forces from Libya as part of efforts to turn the tide of decades of conflict.

The North African country has been embroiled in civil war since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, causing bloodshed in Libya’s competing factions and foreign power.

Turkey sent troops from Syria and pro-Ankara militia units to support the UN-approved government in Tripoli, while Russia and other countries supported Khalifa Haftar, a powerful man from the east.

Macron said at an international conference on Libya in Paris on Friday that “Russia and Turkey must withdraw their mercenaries without delay.”

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the top foreign policy adviser, told the AFP news agency on Saturday that it was “wrong” to focus on withdrawing troops quickly.

“Getting foreign forces out … Libya, most importantly, if you stand out as the main issue, we think that’s wrong,” Ibrahim Kalin said in an exclusive interview.

“Libya needs support for its political process, elections, economic problems,” he said, referring to presidential polls expected by world leaders on December 24.

France itself has complained that it has sided with the Haftars, but has always stressed that it has been completely objective in the conflict.

Turkey sent a low-level delegation to Paris as a sign of continued dissatisfaction with Macron’s foreign policy stance.

Kalin said Turkey’s continued military presence in Libya would help contribute to political stability and security in an energy-rich state.

“Our military presence there is to help train the Libyan army,” he said.

“We are there as a force for stability and support for the Libyan people. And our priority in terms of security is to help Libyans establish a united Libyan National Army. “



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