Egypt will not stand idle while Turkey intervenes in Libya: Parl’t

CAIRO – 3 January 2020: The Egyptian House of Representatives (Parliament) on Thursday warned against the consequences of Turkey’s planned military intervention in Libya, due to the threat it poses to Egyptian national security and the stability of the Mediterranean region.

The Egyptian House stressed that Egypt will not stand idle while watching such irrational and irresponsible behavior, and will defend its national security and the interests of its neighbors, and will take all necessary measures necessary to confront these unacceptable threats and behaviors, the parliament said in a press release published by state’s news agency MENA.

As Turkish parliament earlier on Thursday approved a bill allowing the dispatch of Turkish troops to Libya despite international condemnation, the Egyptian parliament condemned the “void and illegitimate” memoranda of understanding signed between Turkey and Libya’s so-called Government of National Accord of Fayez al-Sarraj, which the House said harbors terrorist militia that fuel conflict in the war-torn country.

The Turkish steps constitute a violation of international decisions and Security Council resolutions on Libya, driven by “sultanate illusions to control the capabilities of Arab countries,” referring to the obsolete Ottoman Empire that had controlled many [arts of Southeast Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.

The House of Representatives condemned the Turkish endeavor to destabilize the region, under the slogan of “the Ottoman legacy”, and support to extremist groups to achieve these ambitions, led by the “terrorist” Muslim Brotherhood organization, saying that they contributed to fueling conflicts in the Arab region.

Based on the latest developments, the House called on the international community to carry out its responsibilities to face possible regional escalation and its dire effects on efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement in Libya.

The Turkish Parliament, dominated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party, voted in favor of a bill allowing Turkey to send troops to Libya based on an agreement with Sarraj, whose government is not recognized by the Libyan parliament, Libyan National Army (LNA) and many countries especially Egypt.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s statement highlighted the blatant violation of the Turkish parliament’s move to all the international accords and UNSC resolutions, especially 1970 resolution, issued in 2011, which created Libya Sanctions Committee and banned any arms supply to and military cooperation with the war-torn North African country unless such actions were approved by the committee.