Epress.am News from Armenia
Turkey cut its diplomatic ties with Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan government and recalled its ambassador, the Turkish Official Gazette reported over the weekend, according to World Bulletin.
The move came after Turkey’s foreign minister recognized Libya’s rebel leaders as the country’s legitimate representatives and promised them an additional $200 million in aid during a visit Sunday.
The visit by foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu (pictured, left) signaled a further policy shift for Ankara. Turkey, a key regional power, had initially balked at the idea of military action in Libya, but as a NATO member is now supporting the alliance’s air strikes there. Turkish companies were involved in construction projects worth billions of dollars in Libya before the February outbreak of a Libyan anti-government uprising that has evolved into a protracted armed conflict.
Davutoğlu met with Mustafa Abdul-Jalil (pictured, right), chair of the rebels’ National Transitional Council, in a heavily guarded government building in the city of Benghazi, the rebel’s main stronghold in eastern Libya. He later addressed a news conference with Ali al-Essawi, who serves as the rebels’ foreign minister.
The Turkish visitor said his country recognizes the rebel leaders as the legitimate representatives of the Libyan people. Several other countries, including France, Qatar and Italy, have previously recognized the rebels.
Al-Essawi noted that “Turkey has given us political as well as financial support and humanitarian aid.”
Turkey has already granted the Libyan opposition $100 million in aid and promised an additional $200 million. Some of the money is to be used to improve the infrastructure of Benghazi and rehabilitate its airport.
Turkey has called on Gadhafi to withdraw from power and pave the way for “democracy and transparency,” reports Today’s Zaman.