The National Security Council (MGK) was convened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday. The fundamental subjects of the meeting have been the latest tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia and developments in struggle-ravaged Libya.
The MGK additionally mentioned different necessary subjects resembling drilling actions within the Eastern Mediterranean, struggle in opposition to terror each at house and overseas, notably in northern Syria and Iraq; along with peace efforts in Cyprus.
Developments in Libya
The MGK additionally reaffirmed Turkey’s steadfast help to the internationally-famous authorities of Libya.
“Turkey will proceed to facet with Libya’s reliable GNA authorities,” the MGK stated in an announcement launched after the assembly.
Saying that every one nations have to again the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), the MGK additionally urged the worldwide group in opposition to aiding putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar.
Libya has been mired in strife since NATO operations led to the overthrow of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
The nation’s new authorities was based 4 years later in 2015 below a U.N.-led settlement, however efforts for a protracted-time period political settlement have up to now failed because of a army offensive by Haftar’s forces.
Since April 2019, Haftar’s forces have launched assaults on the Libyan capital of Tripoli and different components of northwestern Libya, leading to greater than 1,000 deaths, together with civilians.
Haftar has the help of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia whereas the U.N.-recognized authorities is backed by Turkey. The Libyan authorities has just lately achieved vital victories in opposition to Haftar, pushing his forces out of Tripoli and the strategic metropolis of Tarhuna.
This week can also be a busy one for Turkey in phrases of diplomatic efforts as Libya peace talks at a trilateral assembly in Ankara kick off and facet talks with regional nations resembling Algeria proceed.
Meanwhile, the protection minister held a trilateral assembly with Libya’s inside minister and the Maltese minister of house affairs and nationwide safety upon Ankara’s invitation. Before the joint sitting, Hulusi Akar held separate conferences with Libya’s Fathi Bashagha and Malta’s Byron Camilleri. After the assembly, the three held a trilateral information convention.
On Nov. 27, 2019, Ankara and Tripoli signed two separate pacts: one on army cooperation and the opposite on maritime boundaries within the Eastern Mediterranean.
The maritime pact asserted Turkey’s rights within the Eastern Mediterranean within the face of unilateral drilling by the Greek Cypriot administration, clarifying that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) additionally has rights to the sources within the space. The pact took impact on Dec. 8.
As half of the army deal, Turkey has despatched advisers to assist the Libyan Army defeat Haftar’s militias. Erdoğan stated Friday that Turkey would “not permit our Libyan brothers to face alone,” heralding a brand new take care of the Libyan authorities, this time with the involvement of the U.N.
Fight in opposition to terror
A everlasting matter of dialogue with regards to MGK conferences is sadly the struggle in opposition to terror as Turkey has been preventing in opposition to terrorism for many years with the fact of terror turning into more and more multifaceted by the day.
Ankara which has been preventing PKK terror for over 40 years, has additionally been dealing with threats for a very long time from the Gülenist terror group (FETÖ), which tried to overthrow the nation’s democratically-elected authorities on July 15, 2016 coup try. The nation additionally fights PKK’s Syrian affiliate PYD/YPG and Daesh terrorists in northern Syria.
The MGK underlined that Turkey gained’t again off from its struggle in opposition to terror. Saying that the nation will proceed to struggle YPG/PYD and Daesh terrorists in Syria, the MGK additionally acknowledged that Turkey is not going to let the PKK discover a secure haven in northern Iraq both.
The council additionally mentioned the struggle in opposition to FETÖ terror and emphasised the nation’s resolve and dedication in defending its residents from the threats the group poses, each at house and overseas.
Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia
The MGK additionally touched upon tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, reaffirming Turkey’s steadfast help to brotherly Azerbaijan.
“Turkey condemns Armenia’s anti-peace aggression, which violates worldwide legislation,” the MGK stated.
“Turkey as soon as once more emphasizes that it’s going to help any resolution by Azerbaijan, in its simply trigger,” the Council added.
“Armenia wants to finish its aggressive perspective and depart Azerbaijani territories it illegally holds below occupation,” it concluded.
The latest rise in tensions was triggered when the Armenian military on Sunday tried to assault Azerbaijani positions with artillery fireplace within the course of the northwestern Tovuz border district, withdrawing after struggling losses following retaliation from the Azerbaijani army.
Twelve Azerbaijani troopers, together with a significant common and a colonel, have been killed in latest border clashes with Armenia that injured 4 others. Despite worldwide requires restraint, Armenian troops additionally opened fireplace on close by residential areas.
A 76-year-outdated Azerbaijani man misplaced his life Tuesday within the assaults by Armenia, which Baku has accused of concealing losses.
Azerbaijan has blamed Armenia for the “provocative” actions, with Turkey throwing its weight behind Baku and warning Yerevan that it could not hesitate to face in opposition to any type of assault on its japanese neighbor.
Addressing reporters in Istanbul, Erdoğan additionally just lately stated Turkey is not going to depart Azerbaijan alone within the face of Armenia’s latest aggression and accused the OSCE Minsk Group of leaving the difficulty of Nagorno-Karabakh on the desk with out an effort for decision.
The OSCE Minsk Group was created in 1992 to encourage a peaceable, negotiated decision to the battle between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. The Minsk Group is headed by a co-chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the U.S.
Peace efforts in Cyprus
The MGK additionally underlined Turkey’s resolve in defending Cypriot Turks and its willingness to contribute to peace efforts within the divided island.
The council additionally emphasised that Turkey is not going to permit any nation or actor to undermine peace efforts on the island.
“The nations and actors, who ignore Turkish society’s existence and rights on the island, is not going to be allowed to undermine peace efforts,” the MGK stated.
“Turkey emphasizes its complete dedication to guard its rights and pursuits arising from the worldwide legislation,” the council added.
Tensions with Greece
The latest tensions between Turkey and Greece have been reportedly one of the subjects of dialogue within the MGK.
An advisory often known as NAVTEX was issued by the Turkish navy on Tuesday for seismic surveys by the Oruç Reis and two help vessels in waters south of the Greek islands of Rhodes, Karpathos and Kastellorizo (Meis in Turkish, Megisti in Greek) by way of Aug. 2.
The Greek overseas ministry Tuesday stated the advisory coated half of the Greek continental shelf.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated earlier Tuesday that until Turkey backed down, European Union sanctions in opposition to its NATO ally could possibly be inevitable.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, nevertheless, launched an announcement rejecting Greek claims.
The Foreign Ministry stated that the Greek island of Kastellorizo is 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away from the Turkish mainland and 580 kilometers off the Greek coast, making “Greece’s maximalist continental shelf claims primarily based on islands removed from its mainland incompatible with worldwide legislation and court docket selections.”
“Greece’s declare to a 40,000-square-kilometer (15,450-square-mile) continental shelf by way of an island 2 kilometers away from Anatolia and 580 kilometers away from the Greek mainland just isn’t rational and contradicts worldwide legislation,” the ministry assertion learn, including that Ankara has rejected the Greek claims.
The ministry additionally reiterated requires dialogue and stated Turkey would proceed to guard its rights and pursuits according to worldwide legislation.
Eastern Mediterranean drilling tensions
If Turkey adheres to Greece’s maximalist claims, it could make it almost unimaginable for Ankara to do any type of drilling within the waters surrounding the nation. That is why Turkey has many occasions rejected Greece’s absurd claims and continued its drilling actions according to worldwide legislation.
The MGK additionally reportedly mentioned Turkey’s resolve and dedication to proceed its drilling actions wherever the worldwide legal guidelines and conventions permit it to.
Turkey has intensified hydrocarbon exploration and drilling actions within the Eastern Mediterranean regardless of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
The nation is conducting exploration actions within the Eastern Mediterranean with two drilling vessels – the Fatih and the Yavuz – together with the Oruç Reis and the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa seismic ships.
The nation’s first oil and fuel drilling vessel, Fatih, additionally began on Monday it is first drilling, this time within the Black Sea’s Tuna-1 zone.
The Tuna-1 zone is situated off the mouth of the Danube block on the crossroads of the Bulgarian and Romanian maritime borders and the inland waters of Turkey.
Turkey’s first seismic vessel, Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa, has beforehand carried out seismic surveys within the Black Sea and recognized wealthy reserves of pure fuel within the Danube block within the Turkish seawaters of the western Black Sea. Romania and Bulgaria have been producing oil and fuel for a few years within the Danube block.
