By Janet Ekstrsct
ISTANBUL (TURKISH JOURNAL) – Turkey is widely recognized as an essential, strategic NATO member and as Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said this week: “Turkey is the guarantor of EU’s security, it holds migration and is a member of the NATO as well.”
Hungary ‘s foreign minister urged the new EU policy chief Josep Borrell to be a lot less critical of Turkey considering Turkey’s significant role in EU security.
Szijjarto made the comments to reporters on Friday, after an extraordinary meeting of EU ministers in Brussels.
The meeting was held to assess policy and situations in many regions but especially the Middle East where the conflict in Libya has reached a critical juncture.
Borrell said earlier this week that the EU rejects Turkey’s agreement on military aid to Libya as “foreign interference.”
Meanwhile, Turkish President Erdogan pointed out that the nations supporting renegade warlord Khalifa Haftar must be held accountable for their role in the conflict. Haftar is backed by the UAE, Egypt, Russia ‘s Wagner Group, Jordan and France.
Haftar has attempted to invade Tripoli repeatedly since April. He has left a trail of destruction and death with surprise attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Haftar’s latest attack was on a military school dormitory resulting in numerous deaths and serious injuries.
Erdogan has vowed to fight the “injustice and persecution” in Libya and offered Libya military assistance at the request of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj who heads the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) which the Turkish president said is the only legitimate government and internationally recognized.
Though Borrell condemned Haftar’s attacks earlier this week – his insistence on singling out Turkey’s assistance as “foreign interference” has yet to take into account the numerous advanced weaponry and technology being provided Haftar by foreign countries.
