New Libyan unity government pays first visit to Turkey

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah and a delegation of ministers made their first visit to Turkey on April 12 since taking office last month.

As part of a two-day visit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Dbeibeh on April 12 chaired the first meeting of the Turkey-Libya High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara.

Ahead of the council meeting, Turkish and Libyan ministers had bilateral meetings, while Erdoğan welcomed the Libyan prime minister with an official ceremony and had a tête-à-tête meeting.

After meeting his Libyan counterpart, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez tweeted that they decided to develop cooperation with Libya, especially oil and natural gas.

Environment and Urban Planning Minister Murat Kurum stated that they met with Libyan Minister of Housing and Development Abubekir Muhammed El-Gawi. They discussed improving relations between countries and increasing solidarity in the fields of environment and urbanism, he said.

"Turkey and our powerful institutions, including the Presidency of TOKİ [Turkey's government-backed housing agency], we are willing to make the necessary investments with our private sector in the process of the reconstruction of Libya," he tweeted.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met with the Libyan National Unity Government Foreign Minister Najla el-Mengush, Çavuşoğlu tweeted and said they stressed their common determination to strengthen the friendship and cooperation of Turkey and Libya.

"We will continue to support brother Libya in this historical process," Çavuşoğlu stated.

"Turkey, with all its resources, will continue to stand with Libya's economic development efforts," Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said after meeting with the...