Türkiye set to soon reopen consulate in eastern Libya: Foreign minister

By Anadolu Staff

VALETTA, Malta (AA) - Türkiye is set to soon reopen its consulate general in Benghazi, eastern Libya, the Turkish foreign minister said Tuesday.

“Türkiye does not want any renewed conflict in Libya,” Hakan Fidan told a joint press conference with his Maltese counterpart Ian Borg at the Prime Ministry Palace in Valletta, the capital of Malta, an island nation some hundreds of kilometers (miles) off the coast of Libya.

"We want Libya to resolve its problems through dialogue. We also do not want the current existing division between the east and west to become permanent," said Fidan.

“Türkiye's relations with the eastern side are improving. Joint work with actors in the region is underway,” Fidan said, adding that Turkish companies in the region have also resumed work.

Türkiye continues its joint efforts with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and other friendly regional countries to play a constructive role on the Libyan issue, Fidan said.

Fidan said he is scheduled to visit Libya after his Malta visit to meet with high-level Libyan officials.

He underlined that during the meetings, he would reiterate Türkiye’s constructive policy for resolving the issue.

Libya has been torn by civil war since the 2011 ouster of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, who later died.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara