UN-backed PM hails return of Turkish firms to Libya

By Jabbur Dokn

TRIPOLI

The head of Libya’s UN-backed unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, has hailed the return of Turkish companies to Libya to accomplish projects there under a recent agreement with the Turkish government.

Al-Sarraj met with Turkish ambassador Ahmet Dogan late Monday.

During the meeting, the Turkish diplomat reiterated his country’s support for the Libyan unity government, according to a statement issued by the media office of the Tripoli-based government.

He signaled readiness to promote bilateral cooperation and fulfill the Libyan needs in all fields, the statement said.

According to the statement, talks between the two sides tackled the latest political developments and aspects of cooperation, particularly in the security and military spheres.

The discussions also dwelt on the possibility of training Libyans in Turkish academies and institutions and supporting the energy sector in Libya, the statement said.

Last week, some 160 engineers and technicians from Turkish firm ENKA Teknik arrived in the southern city of Ubari to continue the construction of a power plant there.

Rafet Aydogdu, the head of administrative affairs department in the firm, had earlier said works in the plant had been suspended over turmoil in the nearby city of Sabha in 2014.

Libya has remained in a state of turmoil since early 2011, when leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody uprising -- backed by NATO airpower -- after 42 years in power.

In the wake of the uprising, the country’s stark political divisions yielded two rival seats of government -- one in Tobruk and the other in capital Tripoli -- and a host of competing militia groups.