Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and visiting Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj hold a joint press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on June 4, 2020. Turkey and Libya agreed to further enhance their cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean over a deal made on maritime delimitation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)
Turkey and Libya agreed to further enhance their cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean over a deal made on maritime delimitation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
"On maritime delimitation, we aim to improve our cooperation, including exploration and drilling," Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
Sarraj on Thursday met with Erdogan in the Turkish capital Ankara after GNA's military said in a statement that they had regained control over Tripoli.
Erdogan welcomed the recent military success of the GNA forces.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with visiting Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, on June 4, 2020. Turkey and Libya agreed to further enhance their cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean over a deal made on maritime delimitation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. (Xinhua)
Turkey supports the GNA both politically and militarily. Ankara deployed Turkish troops in Libya to train and advise forces loyal to Sarraj in Tripoli.
Sarraj and Erdogan discussed the ways of lifting embargos on Libya, the Turkish president said, "We are on the same page on the issue of continuation of oil exports of Libya," he stated.
Erdogan called on international actors to prevent the "illegal" oil export of Hafter.
Sarraj expressed gratitude for Turkey's "historical and responsible attitude." He said they want to increase cooperation with Turkey.
Since the uprising which killed former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, Libya has been divided between the powers of GNA and the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA).
