Turkey did its part, ball now in Moscow’s court, Erdoğan says

Turkey has done its part in reaching an agreement in Moscow between warring sides in Libya and the rest is now under Russia's responsibility, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Jan. 14.

"We did our duty, the rest is with Mr. Putin and his team. We never not keep our promise," Erdoğan said, speaking to his party members.

Erdoğan, who first brokered the Libya truce deal with President Vladimir Putin of Russia last week, warned he would "teach a lesson" to Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar if his forces resumed fighting.

Haftar had "run away" from Moscow after the talks, Erdoğan said.

"The putschist Haftar did not sign the ceasefire. He first said yes, but later, unfortunately, he had run away from Moscow, he fled Moscow," he said.

Erdoğan said he finds the talks in Moscow were positive as they "showed the true face of the putschist Haftar" to the international community.

The president said the issue would now be discussed at talks in Berlin on Jan. 19 to be attended by European, North African and Middle Eastern countries as well as the U.N., EU, Africa Union and Arab League.

"It is our duty to protect our kin in Libya," he added, saying that Turkey had deep historical and social ties with the North African country and that Haftar would have taken over the entire nation if Ankara had not intervened.

Turkey will keep its presence in the North African country as needed, he added.

Turkey has no plans for adventurism in Syria, Libya, or the Mediterranean, Erdoğan said. "Most particularly, we do not have any imperial ambitions... We only aim to protect the rights and future of ourselves and our brothers," he said.

Elaborating on the Syrian crisis, Erdoğan said Turkey is resolved to stop...