After 13 years, Libya has hosted the Turkey’s Prime Minister for the first time. After the Turkey’s Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan’s eventful visit to Libya 13 years ago, Libya has welcomed the Turkey’s Prime Minister for the first time. During Erbakan’s visit, Libyan leader Muammar al Gaddafi caught the attention with his remarks. Gaddafi had said “Kurdistan should be founded” and had stated that he was uncomfortable with Turkey’s foreign policy in a close contact with Israel. Therefore, there occurred a political apathy between the two countries and there have not been any high level visit from Turkey to Libya up to now. 

 

For the visit starting on November, 23 and planned to take two days, the 13 years ago remarks of Gaddafi were reminded to the Prime Minister Erdogan and he said: “I talked with Mr.Gaddafi for two times at international meetings. We do not make the assessment of what happened 13 years ago. We are striving to build a different future.” During his Libya visit the Prime Minister Erdogan met first with Libyan Prime Minister Bagdadi Ali El Mahmud on November, 24 before Gaddafi. After the negotiation it was announced that the visas between Turkey and Libya would be abolished. 

 

El Mahmud said to the press: “We reached an agreement on the abolition of the visas between Turkey and Libya. In a short time we will have the Muslim Festival of Sacrifices. As of today, Turkish citizens to Libya and Libyan citizens to Turkey can travel without visas.” (Click-1) The Prime Minister Erdogan, after meeting with el Mahmud, he started to negotiate with Muammar-al Gaddafi. Colonel Gaddafi welcomed Erdogan rather sincerely in front of the tent in Bab-al Aziza Palace in Libya Presidency. (Click-2)

 

In recent days, there are positive steps in Turkey-Libya relations. Even the remarks of Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi about Turkey at the fortieth anniversary of his power in Libya are not only the indicator of this, but also catch attention. At that time, Gaddafi said: “There is no problem between two countries. What is important for us our mutual history and Islam in Turkey. We fought in Cyprus together with Turkey. We supported the Turks there. We opened our doors to Turkish companies in Libya. We gave great share to Turkish companies in Libyan development. We are still loyal to our principles. Now there is an Islamic environment in your country. Our brothers and friends are in power in Turkey now. (click-3)

Recently as Turkey’s next step in the context of “zero problem with neighbors” policy is Libya. After its decisions of the abolition of visas for Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan, Turkey’s taking decision for the abolition of visa for Libya is significant in order to recognize Turkey’s recent policy in its own region. As a matter of fact, in the context of Turkish foreign policy, we have Libya as a new region whose boundaries have been removed. Therefore, with the decision of the abolition of visas to Libya, Turkey has added to its recent initiative policies a new one in the context of Turkey’s near surrounding. 

 

(Fahriye Keskin, Gazi University)