Turkey on Wednesday dismissed Egypt’s proposal for a ceasefire in Libya, saying the plan aimed to save Khalifa Haftar after the collapse of his offensive to control Tripoli, Reuters reported, citing Turkey’s Hürriyet daily.
Turkey supports Fayez al-Sarraj’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), whose forces have in recent weeks repelled a 14-month assault on Tripoli by Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia.
Egypt called for a ceasefire starting on Monday as part of an initiative that also proposed an elected leadership council for Libya. Russia and the UAE welcomed the plan, while Germany said UN-backed talks were key to the peace process.
However, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu dismissed the proposal as an attempt to save Haftar following the losses he suffered on the battlefield.
“The ceasefire effort in Cairo was stillborn. If a ceasefire is to be signed, it should be done at a platform that brings everyone together,” Çavuşoğlu told Hürriyet. “The ceasefire call to save Haftar does not seem sincere or believable to us.”
Çavuşoğlu said Turkey would continue talks with all parties for a solution in Libya but that such a solution would require the agreement of both sides.