Erdogan says Turkey to increase support for Libya's Sarraj

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey will increase its support for Libya's internationally recognised leader Fayez al Sarraj and that the conflict there can only be resolved politically under the auspices of the United Nations.

In a news conference with Sarraj in Ankara, Erdogan said that Turkey and Libya would also advance exploration and drilling for oil in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Erdogan said warlord Khalifa Haftar and his supporters are the biggest obstacles to peace. 

History will judge those who cause bloodshed and tears in Libya by supporting putschist Haftar, said the Turkish president.

Erdogan also called on the international community to stop the putschist Khalifa Haftar from illegally selling oil which rightfully belongs to the Libyan people.

"The oil, which should be used for the welfare of Libya and all Libyans, should not be allowed to be sold illegally by the putschists," he said.

Erdogan also noted that Turkey will stand by the Sarraj government, and continue fighting on all international platforms for a just and legitimate solution.

"We will never leave our Libyan brothers at the mercy of putschists and mercenaries," he said.

On a political process and solution under the auspices of the UN, Erdogan said that although Haftar and his militias have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Sarraj government has always taken a positive attitude in this process.

Erdogan stressed that a person who constantly threatens the future of Libya can no longer have a representation right to sit on the negotiation table.

Turkey’s historic, brave stance on Libya

"We've thanked Turkey for its historic and brave stance on Libya," said Libyan PM Sarraj said at the meeting. 

Referring to the Libyan government's fight with Haftar and his militias in the eastern part of the country, Sarraj said: "We will continue our struggle until we eliminate the enemy in Libya."

He said the Libyan government has achieved great success against the attacks initiated by mercenaries and their supporters.

"We completely liberated Tripoli and its surroundings. Actually, this success is the victory of all of us," he said.

On possible new talks, Sarraj said the Libyan government will not allow negotiations in the next stages with warlord Khalifa Haftar.

Meanwhile, Sarraj said the Libyan government wants to see Turkish companies in Libya during the reconstruction of the country.

He said Libya has a great opportunity to establish constructive cooperation with Turkey due to its natural and human resources.

Haftar's militias, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt, have been attacking Tripoli since April 2019 but have been pushed back in recent months.

Since 2015, Libya has been divided between two governments, one in the east and one in the west. Haftar's eastern-based militants launched an offensive in April 2019 to capture the capital from the western-based Government of National Accord.