Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said Monday that Turkey had difficulty in understanding France’s leading role in using force against Libya.
Speaking to reporters while receiving Macedonian Minister of Defense Zoran Konjanovski and an accompanying delegation in Ankara, Vecdi Gonul said that they had difficulty in understanding France’s role that seemed like one executing the relevant United Nations (UN) resolution.
We have difficulty in understanding France’s leading role in using force against Libya. We have seen later that the United States is part of the use of force against Libya. Our Ministry and the Turkish General Staff held talks and are currently holding talks with the sides prior to and after the beginning of air strike on Libya. We continue to receive information and this is where we stand now, Gonul added.
UN Did Not Demand Any Combat Forces For Operation Directed Against Libya, Gonul Says
Gonul said that the United Nations did not demand any combat forces for the operation directed against Libya.
Vecdi Gonul said that participating in the UN operation on Libya was voluntary and that countries volunteered to become a part of the UN operation.
Unfortunately, Libya is progressing towards an internal crisis, Gonul said.
The UN Security Council adopted the resolution no. 1973 which involves the use of force. This is a decision of the UN and not NATO, Gonul stressed.
Asked if the UN demanded any combat troops from Turkey, Gonul said that the UN did not demand any force.
Countries are acting on a voluntary basis to be a part of UN operation against Libya, Gonul underlined.
Touching on the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Libya, Gonul said that the evacuation of Turks from Libya was an extremely right decision.
We thought that the Turkish citizens in Libya would be left between two fires. However, there is now fire from three sides, Gonul also said.
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