Libya update 7/04/2020..Turkey’s minister of defence meets with GNA representatives in Tripoli

Turkey’s minister of defence meets with GNA representatives in Tripoli

The Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar and a delegation of Turkish officials arrived in Tripoli on Friday to meet with Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) representatives and inspect military facilities as part of a cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Akar along with Yasar Guler, the chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, met Libyan and Turkish soldiers stationed at the Defence Security Cooperation and Training Assistance Advisory Command near Mitiga’s International Airport.

Numerous officials attended the welcome ceremony and subsequent meeting including GNA Deputy Defence Minister Salahaddin Abdullah an-Namrus, Chief of General Staff Muhammad al-Sharif, Commander of the GNA Naval Forces Abdulhakim Abuhalia as well as Turkey’s Ambassador to Tripoli Serhat Aksen.

The Turkish delegation later met with head of the Government of National Accord Fayez al-Sarraj.

The purpose of the meeting was reportedly to improve bilateral ties and increase cooperation in the military and security fields within the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed last year between the two countries.

The meeting comes after several areas, including the Greater Tripoli Region, were wrestled back from Libyan National Army (LNA) forces led by Khalifa Haftar. Haftar’s troops left the region after a 14-month-long offensive, on June 5.

Ankara reiterates its support to Libya’s legitimate government