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  • Turkey Recalibres Its Policy On Libya

    Turkey Recalibres Its Policy On Libya

    Turkey Recalibres Its Policy On Libya

    Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 8 Issue: 139

    July 20, 2011

    By: Saban Kardas

    Turkey has hosted an important meeting, which marked the drastic transformation its policy on Libya has undergone. Although Turkey initially expressed strong opposition to military intervention against the Gaddafi regime, over time it adjusted its policy and managed to coordinate it with Western powers and various Muslim nations that have been working to end Gaddafi’s rule. The Libya Contact Group, bringing together these powers, held its fourth meeting in Istanbul, co-chaired by Turkey and the UAE, on July 15.

    Predating the meeting, Turkey had undertaken several steps to forge closer ties with the Libyan rebels. Despite its opposition to the use of force, Ankara later agreed to the transfer of the operation to NATO command and joined the Libya Contact Group. However, Turkey’s insistence on a negotiated settlement, and its slow pace in cutting its ties with Tripoli arguably drew a wedge between Ankara and Tripoli-based National Transitional Council (NTC) (EDM, April 19).

    While distancing itself from Gaddafi, Turkey progressively repaired its ties with the NTC. After joining the Contact Group, Turkey intensified its criticism against the Gaddafi administration. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan argued that a new period was to start in the history of Libya and called on Gaddafi to relinquish power. More importantly, following the temporary closure of the Turkish embassy in Tripoli the day before, Erdogan emphasized that Turkey would continue to work with the NTC to find a political solution (www.mfa.gov.tr, May 3).

    During the second meeting of the Contact Group in Rome in the same week, Turkey argued for an immediate ceasefire and insisted on a roadmap it proposed earlier in April to end the conflict (Hurriyet, May 5). However, the inability of the Contact Group to agree on determined action and the deepening of the civil war rendered Turkey’s proposal largely ineffective.

    Turkey then moved toward consolidating ties with the opposition, which came in mid-May when the chairman of the NTC, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, visited Turkey and met the president, prime minister and foreign minister. Although Turkish leaders described the NTC as a legal and credible representative of the people of Libya, they stopped short of extending official recognition. Satisfied with Turkey’s de facto recognition of their administration, Abdul-Jalil emphasized that they would discuss ways to improve trade with Turkey and how Ankara could assist the country’s reconstruction and provision of humanitarian aid. He also sought to make the case that the rebel forces held sympathy toward Turkey’s position and earlier protests against Turkey in Benghazi were due to a misunderstanding. More importantly, he said the NTC would honor all the agreements signed in the past by the Tripoli government, meaning that Turkish business investments in the country would be protected. Granted, reflecting perhaps a divergence with Turkey, Abdul-Jalil underlined the necessity of the military option to topple Gaddafi, though he avoided any request for Turkish military assistance (Anadolu Ajansi May 23; Zaman, May 25).

    The real boost for Ankara’s ties with the NTC came when Davutoglu visited Benghazi. Arguing that Turkey and Libya shared the same destiny, he extended support to the Benghazi administration by describing it as the legitimate representative of the country, and adding that Turkey would soon appoint an ambassador to Benghazi. At the same time, Davutoglu made a commitment to provide $100 million in project credit and $100 million in cash credit, in addition to the $100 million Turkey previously provided. Davutoglu reiterated Turkey’s call for a roadmap, based on an immediate ceasefire, delivery of humanitarian assistance, an end to Gaddafi’s rule, and maintenance of Libya’s unity, and argued that a ceasefire should be established before the beginning of Muslim holy month of Ramadan (Anadolu Ajansi, July 3).

    The Turkish government also took a major step, by issuing a decree to freeze the assets of Gaddafi and his family in Turkey, imposing a ban on their entry into Turkey, and opening the way for seizing the control of Arab-Turkish Bank which was partly owned by Libyan Foreign Bank. The decree also spelled out other measures to implement the arms embargo in line with the UN Security Council Resolution (Radikal, July 3). Mahmoud Jibril, the NTC’s spokesman on foreign affairs, paid a visit to Turkey to finalize the loan deal, where he also requested that Ankara grant access to the frozen assets. The Turkish side, however, declined to unfreeze the assets, citing the existing UN resolutions (Hurriyet Daily News, July 6).

    Ahead of the Contact Group meeting in Istanbul, Davutoglu reiterated the need to reach a truce before Ramadan, while arguing that the Turkish proposal would constitute the basis for discussions. Although Ankara also extended an invitation to China and Russia, they declined to attend, arguing that the issue should be handled in the UN Security Council (Sabah, July 14). In his address at the opening of the meeting, Davutoglu expressed support for NTC’s request for the release of $3 billion from the frozen assets and its equal distribution in Tripoli and Benghazi (www.mfa.gov.tr, July 15).

    While recognizing the NTC as the legitimate governing authority in Libya until an interim authority is set in place, the contact group took various decisions to aid the political transition, and assist the NTC in political, economic, financial and administrative fields. For instance, the final declaration urged participants to “open credit lines to the NTC corresponding to 10 percent to 20 percent of the frozen assets by accepting them as collateral” (www.mfa.gov.tr, July 15).

    Although the conclusions outlined a roadmap for the political transition after the end of Gaddafi’s rule and decided to heighten pressure on Tripoli, the meeting failed to present clear answers as to how the current military stalemate will be overcome. Likewise, despite the incorporation of some of the elements from Turkey’s own roadmap, there was no decision to halt military operations in Ramadan. Granted, the process leading from the outbreak of the crisis in Libya to the holding of the Contact Group meeting in Istanbul reflects the high degree of flexibility on the part of Turkey. More importantly, it demonstrates Ankara’s determination to work closely with the United States, as was reflected by the warm welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received from Turkish leaders during her stay in Turkey.

    https://jamestown.org/program/turkey-recalibres-its-policy-on-libya/

  • Turkey Hopes to Help Bring Peaceful Future to Libya

    Turkey Hopes to Help Bring Peaceful Future to Libya

    Dorian Jones | Istanbul, Turkey

    Photo: AP Turkish President Abdullah Gul (L) speaks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in front of the Bosphorus Sea in Istanbul, July 15, 2011
    Photo: AP Turkish President Abdullah Gul (L) speaks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in front of the Bosphorus Sea in Istanbul, July 15, 2011

    Turkey hopes its role as the only predominately Muslim country in NATO, and its ties to African and Middle Eastern nations, will help it forge a peaceful future for Libya.

    Istanbul was host to the latest meeting Friday of the so-called Libyan contact group. Officials from more than 20 countries, including the foreign ministers from France and Britain, and the U.S. Secretary of State, met with the Libyan opposition.

    Turkey is playing a big role behind the scenes as Western nations joined together to recognize Libya’s opposition Transitional National Council as the “legitimate governing authority” in the nation.

    Selcuk Unal, a Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Turkey hopes to agree on an approach to force out Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and to set out what will follow after his removal.

    “Currently there are two road maps, which are being referred to and being discussed,” said Unal. “Firstly, one is the Turkish road map and the other is the African Union.”

    He gave no details of the Turkish plan, but one path that Istanbul proposed in April included an immediate cease-fire and steps toward a democratic transition.

    Despite being a member of NATO, Turkey has opposed the NATO-led military operation in Libya. But it has taken a very active role in trying to find a peaceful end to the fighting there, which began in March when Libyan forces cracked down on opposition protesters.

    “We intend to focus on a possible political solution,” said Unal. “That is why we will hear from the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Representative for Libya, Mr. Ali Hatip, about his contacts with Tripoli, Mr. Gadhafi’s administration, and opposition representatives in Benghazi.”

    The contact group meeting, the fourth of its kind, has been expanded to include key African countries, including Ethiopia and Senegal.

    The Turkish hosts were disappointed, though, when both Russia and China declined invitations to attend. Moscow and Beijing have been strong critics of the U.N.-sanctioned military operations against the Libyan leader.

    via Turkey Hopes to Help Bring Peaceful Future to Libya | Africa | English.

  • US, allies formally recognize Libya rebels

    US, allies formally recognize Libya rebels

    By MATTHEW LEE and SELCAN HACAOGLU Associated Press © 2011 The Associated Press

    ISTANBUL — The United States and more than 30 other nations on Friday formally recognized Libya’s main opposition group as the country’s legitimate government, giving the rebel movement a major boost.

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    The decision, which declared Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s regime no longer legitimate, gives his foes greater credibility and will potentially free up billions in cash that the rebels fighting Libyan forces urgently need.

    The front lines in the Libyan civil war have largely stagnated since the popular uprising seeking to oust Gadhafi broke out in February. Rebels, backed by NATO’s air force bombings, control much of the country’s east and pockets in the west. But Gadhafi controls the rest from his stronghold in Tripoli, the capital.

    Foreign ministers and other representatives of the so-called Contact Group on Libya said in a statement Friday that the “Gadhafi regime no longer has any legitimate authority in Libya.” They said the Libyan strongman and certain members of his family must go.

    “The Contact Group has sent an unequivocal message to Gadhafi: that he has no legitimacy and there is no future for Libya with him in power. He must go and go now,” said British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

    The nations said they would deal with Libya’s main opposition group — the National Transitional Council, or NTC — as “the legitimate governing authority in Libya” until an interim authority is in place that will organize free and fair elections.

    In addition to the U.S., the 32-nation Contact Group on Libya includes members of NATO, the European Union and the Arab League.

    Diplomatic recognition of the foes of Gadafi means that the U.S. will soon be able to fund the opposition with some of the more than $30 billion in Gahdafi-regime assets that are frozen in American banks. Other countries holding billions more in such assets will be able to do the same.

    Contact Group representatives broke into spontaneous applause when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her nation’s recognition of the NTC, according to U.S. officials.

    Rebel spokesman Mahmoud Shammam welcomed the NTC’s recognition and called on other nations to deliver on a promise to release hundreds of millions of dollars in funds to the opposition. “Funds, funds, funds,” Shammam said, in order to stress the opposition’s demand. It remained unclear Friday whether the unfrozen assets could be used to purchase arms, or if some restrictions would still apply.

    Meanwhile, the council’s oil minister said Libya could be exporting 1 million barrels of oil a day within three to four months of Gadhafi’s departure. He said the opposition hopes to hold elections within a year and resume oil exports very soon, saying the damage to oil facilities has been minimal and repaired.

    There had been concerns about whether the initial replacement government would represent the full spectrum of Libyan society.

    Human Rights Watch urged the Contact Group to press the council to ensure that civilians are protected in areas where rebels have assumed control. It cited abuses in four towns — Awaniya, Rayayinah, Zawiyat al-Bagul, and Qawalish — recently captured by rebels in the western mountains, including looting, arson and beatings of some civilians who remained when government forces withdrew.

    In June, the group criticized the rebels for arbitrarily detaining dozens of men suspected of supporting Gadhafi.

    Early on, some in the West feared the rebels contained radical Islamist elements. While a number of individual fighters have been found to have old connections to radical groups, none of them have risen in the rebel leadership, which insists it seeks to establish a democratic government based on a secular constitution.

    Clinton said the council won international recognition after giving assurances it would respect human rights and presenting a plan on how to pave the way to a truly democratic Libyan government.

    She said the assurances included upholding the group’s international obligations, pursuing a democratic reform process that is both geographically and politically inclusive, and dispersing funds for the benefit of the Libyan people.

    “We believe them, we think that’s what they intend to do,” Clinton said.

    The U.S and others were impressed by the progress the NTC has made in laying the groundwork for a successful transition to a Libya that protects the rights of all its citizens, including women and minority groups, diplomats said.

    Asked why it took so long to recognize the NTC, Clinton said the U.S. administration analyzed the situation to make sure that the NTC’s actions are in accord with its statements.

    “We really have acted in warp time in diplomatic terms, but we took our time to make sure that we were doing so based on our best possible assessments,” Clinton said.

    Ahead of the meeting in Istanbul, a spokesman for the Gadhafi government said its members were ready to die in defense of the country’s oil against attacks by the rebels and NATO forces. “We will kill, we will die for oil,” Moussa Ibrahim said. “Rebels, NATO, we don’t care. We will defend our oil to the last drop of blood and we are going to use everything.”

    The Contact Group statement called for the establishment of a cease-fire and the provision of humanitarian assistance to “normalize life.” It also urged a smooth transition to democracy, ruled out participation of “perpetrators of atrocities against civilians” in a future political settlement, and called on members to provide financial aid to the opposition, including the unfreezing of Libyan assets and helping the opposition to resume the production and export of oil.

    U.S. officials said more work needs to be done to fully legalize that step under current U.N. sanctions on Libya.

    The recognition does not mean that the U.S. diplomatic mission in the rebel-held city of Benghazi, Libya, is now an embassy. Titles of staff and names of offices will be decided in the coming days, the officials said. Other countries may move more quickly, they said.

    Meanwhile, Gadhafi has been urging his loyalists to take up arms to attack Libya’s enemies. In an audio broadcast to thousands of supporters in the town of Zlitan on Friday, Gadhafi defiantly addressed the Contact Group:

    “You guys say that Gadhafi is over,” he said. “Then why are all these people demonstrating outside?”

    ___

    Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Ben Hubbard in Cairo contributed to this report.

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  • Paris wants Libya contact group to meet in Africa

    Paris wants Libya contact group to meet in Africa

    Paris wants Libya contact group to meet in Africa

    French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Monday that the next meeting of the international contact group on Libya should take place in Africa.

    “I hope that the next meeting of the contact group, after that in Istanbul, can take place in an African country to mark the involvement of the African Union in the process” of getting Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi to leave power, Juppe told journalists.

    The contact group, which is scheduled to meet in Istanbul on Friday, was created in London on March 29. It includes all the country’s participating in a NATO campaign against Kadhafi’s regime.

    Juppe said after meeting Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz that he was pleased the two agreed on what should happen next regarding the Libyan conflict.

    “As president Aziz has said, as we have been saying for a long time, Kadhafi has lost all legitimacy, there is no solution if he remains in power. He must therefore commit to leaving power and a process of negotiations can begin.

    “We think that the AU (African Union) can play a crucial role in achieving this result,” Juppe said, adding he hoped the pan-african bloc would be represented in Istanbul.

    The African Union recently endorsed a roadmap towards a peace deal in Libya at a summit in Equatorial Guinea, which calls for a ceasefire and negotiations on democratic reforms, with provision for a multinational peacekeeping force organised by the United Nations.

    So far the AU has been unable to convince the rebels to accept the proposal, or to convince Kadhafi to leave power as the rebellion demands.

    The AU also decided that its members would not execute an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for the Libyan leader.

    Kadhafi was one of the main contributors to AU running costs but also, thanks to his petrodollars, unilaterally funded several projects across the continent for years.

    African leaders have publicly criticised NATO’s air attacks on Kadhafi’s regime, including South African President Jacob Zuma who said the alliance’s actions were undermining AU efforts to find a lasting solution in the north African country.

    via Paris wants Libya contact group to meet in Africa < French news | Expatica France.

  • U.S. Secretary of State to Visit Turkey

    U.S. Secretary of State to Visit Turkey

    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to visit Turkey next week at the invitation by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

    Clinton is to attend the meeting of the Libya Contact Group in Turkey’s largest city of Istanbul on July 15 and hold talks with Turkish officials on that day and July 16, the statement said, adding Clinton would be received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    “Turkey and the United States are two friends and allies. Talks continue between the two countries at all levels within the frame of a model partnership. During Clinton’s visit to Turkey, bilateral relations and current global and regional issues will be discussed and views be exchanged,” the statement said.

    via U.S. Secretary of State to Visit Turkey.