Libya motion submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey

The motion, submitted under the signature of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, recalled that in the period following the events of February 2011 in Libya, efforts to build democratic institutions were thwarted by increasing armed conflicts, leading to a fragmented structure in the country.

The motion stated that upon the failure to establish a ceasefire, ensure political integrity, and set up a functioning state mechanism in Libya, the Libyan Political Agreement was signed on December 17, 2015, in Skhirat, Morocco, as a result of the Libya Political Dialogue, which was conducted with the participation of all parties and lasted approximately one year under the facilitation of the United Nations (UN) to ensure peace and stability.

Pointing out that the Government of National Accord (GNA), established within the scope of the Libyan Political Agreement, was recognized by the international community as the sole and legitimate government representing Libya in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2259 of 2015, the motion reminded that UNSC Resolution 2259 called for the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement and support for Libyan institutions referred to in the agreement, including the GNA.

The motion reported that the GNA requested support from Turkey in December 2019 following attacks by the so-called Libyan National Army—which has no place in the Libyan Political Agreement and is illegitimate both nationally and internationally—that began on April 4, 2019, with the aim of capturing the capital Tripoli and overthrowing the GNA, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, threatening the integrity and stability of Libya, and creating a suitable environment for DAESH, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist organizations, illegal armed groups, as well as illegal migration and human trafficking.

"Turkey continues its strong support for the establishment of a permanent ceasefire in Libya"

The motion stated that in the subsequent process, the GNA halted these attacks that threatened the country's integrity, thereby preventing Libya from being dragged into chaos and instability that would pose a security risk for Turkey and the entire region, ensuring calm on the ground, and paving the way for a ceasefire and political dialogue process in the country under the facilitation of the UN and led and owned by Libyans. The motion included the following statements:

"Turkey continues its strong support for efforts to protect Libya's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity, to establish a permanent ceasefire in the country, and for political dialogue efforts that will ensure national reconciliation, all of which are conducted within the framework of international legitimacy and relevant UNSC resolutions under UN facilitation.

The political uncertainty and governance problem that emerged after the elections planned for December 24, 2021, could not be held in Libya, put the calm established on the ground with great sacrifices at risk and constitute a serious obstacle to achieving lasting stability.

This situation causes concern regarding the security of Libya and the entire region. Considering the deep-rooted historical, political, and economic relations between the two countries, which have been further developed with the Memorandum of Understanding on the Delimitation of Maritime Jurisdiction Areas in the Mediterranean signed and entered into force between Turkey and Libya, the continuation of the ceasefire and political dialogue process in Libya, and the establishment of peace and stability as a result of this process, are of great importance for Turkey."

Emphasizing that Turkey continues to provide training and consultancy support that will contribute to Libya's security within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding on Security and Military Cooperation signed and entered into force with Libya, the motion pointed out that at the current stage, it has not yet been possible to conclude the permanent ceasefire and political dialogue process in Libya and to unify the institutions.

"Risks and threats arising for the region continue"

Stating that it is important to prevent the resumption of conflicts in order to conclude the military and political talks held under UN auspices, the motion emphasized that in this context, the risks and threats arising from the country for the entire region, including Turkey, continue, and that if attacks against the legitimate government resume, Turkey's interests in both the Mediterranean basin and North Africa will be negatively affected.

The motion noted the following:

"With these considerations, in order to take all necessary measures within the framework of international law against any threat and security risk to Turkey's national interests, to eliminate attacks that may be directed at Turkey's interests in Libya by illegitimate armed groups and terrorist organizations in Libya, to ensure the maintenance of our national security against other potential risks such as mass migration, to deliver humanitarian aid needed by the Libyan people, to continue the support requested by the GNA of the time and which the subsequently established Government of National Unity has also stated it needs, to effectively protect and safeguard Turkey's high interests in line with developments that may occur after this process, and to help pursue a rapid and dynamic policy so as not to face a situation that would be difficult to compensate for in the future depending on the course of events, I submit for your information the necessity of extending the duration of the authorization granted by the TBMM Decision dated January 2, 2020, and numbered 1238, and most recently extended by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Decision dated June 21, 2022, and numbered 1320, in accordance with Article 92 of the Constitution, for 24 months starting from January 2, 2024, with the scope, extent, amount, and timing to be determined and set by the President, for the Turkish Armed Forces to be sent to foreign countries to conduct operations and interventions if necessary, for these forces to be used according to the principles to be determined by the President, and for all kinds of measures to be taken to eliminate risks and threats, and for the arrangements that will enable these to be made according to the principles to be determined by the President."