Fighters of UN-backed government forces in Southern Tripoli, Libya, on Jan. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Hamza Turkia)
If the east-based army resume attacks in Libya, "we will not hesitate to give Haftar the lesson he deserves," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns as the intra-Libyan talks in Moscow failed to see the signing of a cease-fire agreement.
ANKARA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Tuesday that Turkey would "teach a lesson" to Khalifa Haftar, commander of Libya's east-based army, if his forces resume fighting.
"If attacks on the legitimate government and our brothers in Libya continue, we will not hesitate to give Haftar the lesson he deserves," Erdogan spoke to his party members at the parliament.
Haftar had "run away" from Moscow after the peace talks between him and the head of the Tripoli-based government Fayez al-Serraj, Erdogan said, noting that the latter has already signed the cease-fire deal.
"Haftar did not sign the cease-fire. He first said yes, but later, unfortunately, he left Moscow and he fled Moscow," Erdogan said, adding that the talks in Moscow "showed the true face of Haftar" to the international community.
The Libyan crisis would be discussed in Berlin on Sunday, he said.
Saying that Turkey had done its part in Moscow by convincing Serraj to sign the agreement, the president said that now "the ball is at the hands of Russia to persuade Haftar."
Turkey will keep a presence in the region as long as it is needed, he said, stressing that Ankara does not have any plans for adventurism.
"We only aim to protect the rights and future of ourselves and our brothers," Erdogan said.
On Monday, Moscow hosted talks on cease-fire agreement between the east-based Libyan National Army and the UN-backed Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.
Turkey and Russia brokered the negotiations which came after a cease-fire they initiated earlier. The rival parties in Libya both accepted the truce which took effect on Jan. 12.
Turkey backs Serraj and the Turkish parliament has authorized the government to send troops to Libya. ■