Alwaght-According to
the Lebanese news webpage “Alahed,” recently the Libyan interim government,
headed by Abdullah Al-theni, and recognized by the international community,
ordered the Turkish companies and investors to abandon all of their projects in
Libya.
Turkish companies’ ongoing projects worth around
$15 billion were halted in 2011. Some of
the companies’ construction sites were raided and the workers fled back to
Turkey. Several Turkish companies have
applied to international courts to compensate their losses.
The Libyan government announced on its official
website, that the termination decision of all contracts with Turkish firms was
taken during the fourth extraordinary session of the government in the current
year.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah Al-theni few days
prior to the decision and in an interview with the Saudi newspaper “Asharq Al
Awsat” said that if Turkey continues with its policies in backing the Libyan
government’s enmities, then the Turkish companies investing in the country would
be dismissed.
Al-theni added that although in the past Sudan and
Qatar were supporting extremist groups in the country, but now they have no
role in aiding these groups. Undoubtedly,
whatever comes from Turkey into Libya, it will have a negative impact on the
security and stability of the country.
Al-theni said, “so far, Turkey’s stance has not
been correct and we will be forced to take measures against it. At the end of the day, Turkey will lose,
because Libya can deal with any other country and Turkish firms are the ones
who will lose their investments in Libya”
Libyan Prime Minister said in another part of the interview that
the Libyan government would discuss the Turkish intervention in the Libya
seriously in the Arab League and the international community, and will call for
the enforcement of sanctions against external intervening states, because these
interferences are detrimental to the dignity and sovereignty of Libya.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç
said that Turkey will be forced to take “necessary measures,” if this attitude
does not change. “We expect interim
government officials to review their irresponsible attitude and avoid hostile
and baseless statements against our country.
Unless they change their attitude, we will have to take the necessary
measures.”
Bilgiç said.
Bilgiç added that his country’s support for Libya
since the Feb. 17, 2011 revolution had always been clear, especially in the
form of Turkish support for Libya’s reconstruction efforts and the development
of the country’s state institutions.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan seeks expanding his
countries influence in the region; however, his foreign policies have failed
and reached a political deadlock so far in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and other
countries.
