Libya’s Presidential Council condemns threats against Turkey

The Libyan Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) has issued a statement condemning the threats against Turkey and Turkish interests and nationals inside Libya by the spokesman for Khalifa Haftar’s forces Ahmed Al-Mismari.

The Saturday statement said Haftar’s forces will be fully accountable for any attacks or violations against any foreign person living or working in Libya.

The statement indicated that Libya and it’s people don’t agree with such a hate speech uttered by Haftar’s spokesman, who ignited hatred and pushed for killing of Turkish nationals based on their identities.

Meanwhile, the Libyan Interior Ministry issued Saturday a statement denying presence of any military officers from Turkey on Libyan soil within the control of the Government of National Accord (GNA).

On Friday, the spokesman for Khalifa Haftar’s forces in eastern Libya, Ahmed Al-Mismari, said his commander (Haftar) announced a ban on any commercial flights from Libya to Turkey and will prevent any Turkish ships from docking in the country.

Al-Mismari said in a weekly presser that any aircraft arriving from Turkey attempting to land in the capital Tripoli would be treated as hostile, adding that the same would apply to Turkish ships docking at Libyan ports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on the sidelines of Japan-hotsed G20 Summit that if Haftar’s threats against Turkish interests and nationals were true, Turkey would take a different approach to dealing with the Libyan situation.