Turkey’s Erdogan Expected to Visit Libya Soon

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks to media following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Turkey, April 26, 2021. Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks to media following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Turkey, April 26, 2021. Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
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Turkey’s Erdogan Expected to Visit Libya Soon

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks to media following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Turkey, April 26, 2021. Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talks to media following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Turkey, April 26, 2021. Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

Libya’s transitional government officials have not commented on local news reports about an expected visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the capital, Tripoli, later this week.

“There is no confirmed information about the visit,” Libyan National Army spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mismari told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He noted that such visits are usually held in secret and announced to the media later.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Muhammad Salem al-Shahoubi requested the Turkish authorities to cancel visas for Libyan citizens to facilitate trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Turkey plays a key role in the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) current development projects, he told Turkish media.

In this context, the preparatory committee for the Libyan-Turkish Forum for Project Development discussed on Wednesday the work mechanism of the participating delegations, as well as the role and agendas of the relevant ministries, agencies and research centers.



Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
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Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged on Friday Hezbollah to engage with the Lebanese army and devise a plan to dismantle its military infrastructure south and north of the Litani river.

In a press conference Friday, Geagea criticized Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel and accused the Shiite group of committing a “major crime” against the Lebanese people.

“We could have done without the martyrdom of more than 4,000 people, the displacement of thousands and the destruction across the country,” he said. “Despite all these tragedies, Hezbollah continues to talk about a victory using a bizarre and disconnected logic that has no basis in reality.”

Geagea’s comments came two days after a US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect. More than 3,900 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's conflict with Hezbollah escalated.

Geagea, whose Lebanese Forces Party holds the largest bloc in Lebanon’s 128-member parliament, also addressed Lebanon’s presidential deadlock. The country has been without a president for more than two years.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has scheduled a session for presidential elections in January. "Consultations with opposition factions and our allies will begin in the coming days to explore the possibility of agreeing on presidential candidates and bringing them to parliament,” Geagea said.