Turkish officials visit Libya ahead of NATO summit

A high-level delegation from Turkey visited Libya on June 12 upon the instructions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of June 14's NATO summit.

The delegation led by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu includes National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, Chief of General Staff Yaşar Güler, spy chief Hakan Fidan, communications director Fahrettin Altun and presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın.

The group met President Halid al-Mashri of the High Council of State, President al-Manfi, members of the Presidential Council of Libya, Minister of State for Communications and Political Affairs Ammar Al-Lafi and Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter.

"Emphasized to President Halid al-Mashri of the High Council of State our commitment to the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process," he said.

Çavuşoğlu said Turkey "will increase support to Libya in every field" and that the delegation "emphasized our support to national reconciliation efforts."

In a separate tweet, he said, the group emphasized Turkey's support to the GNU ahead of the Berlin II Conference in their meeting with Dbeibah. "Will continue to cooperate for secure, stable and prosperous Libya," he said.

Çavuşoğlu also met his Libyan counterpart, Najla Mangoush, and said they will meet again at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum later this month.

Altun said Turkish and Libyan officials had significant talks for the unity, peace and tranquility of Libya.

He had a one-on-one with Al-Lafi, to deepen cooperation between the two countries in media communication.

Mohamed al-Menfi, the head of Libya's Presidential Council, emphasized early on June 12 the...