Turkey peace

Turkey's PM Suggests Roadmap for Peace in Libya 08/04/2011 13:00:00

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister in fresh efforts to help end Libyan conflict Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested a "roadmap" towards a negotiated end to the conflict in Libya that began on February 15 with protests in the eastern city of Benghazi and then spread to many parts of Libya. There have been a number of initiatives by various sides and governments in order to find a way that could lead to a peaceful settlement, this by Turkey, one of the countries that have enjoyed good relations with Libya for a number of years, being the latest one. Mr Erdogan is urging forces aligned with Libyan leader Muammar Al Qathafi to withdraw from besieged cities, and called for the establishment of humanitarian aid corridors and comprehensive democratic transformation process that takes into account the legitimate interests of Libyan people should start immediately. He said that Al Qathafi should halt his attacks on cities and withdraw his forces. Last Monday Erdogan's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, had already received now Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati al-Obeidi in the Turkish capital Ankara, as the Libyan official sought a political settlement by negotiating a ceasefire with opposition forces in the country. At the time, though the Turks said the contacts were "at a very early stage." Turkey has also had talks with representatives of the Libyan opposition and assured the Transitional Council in Benghazi it supports their demands, following recent protests in Libya against Turkey by some opposition members. Erdogan said the measures would be discussed at a meeting by the contact group set up to guide the international intervention in Libya next Wednesday in Doha, Qatar. Turkey, is one of the first countries that expressed its desire to attend the meeting. Others include be representatives from Britain, the United States, the Arab League, and other allies from the Middle East. Turkey initially balked at the idea of military action in Libya, but is now taking part in the enforcement of a no-fly zone to shield civilians. It has also volunteered to lead humanitarian aid efforts and even arranged humanitarian medical aid vessels to ferry wounded out of the city of Misurata, which has been under attack from the regime's forces for weeks. It has also delivered supplies to Benghazi. Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for a halt to hostilities in Misurata, around 215km east of Tripoli, saying several weeks of "heavy shelling" by the Al Qathafi forces had killed or wounded hundreds. United Nations general secretary, Ban Ki-moon has reportedly made a new "urgent call for an immediate cessation of the indiscriminate use of military force against the civilian population. Ban-ki moon's spokesman said: "Conditions in Misurata are especially grave, with reports of the use of heavy weapons to attack the city, where the population is trapped and unable, as a result of heavy shelling that has continued over several weeks, to receive basic supplies, including clean water, food, and medicines." Meanwhile, the regime's opposition in Benghazi are using fishing vessels and tugboats to send food, medicine and military supplies - including weapons, ammunition and men - to help defend the city. A ship chartered by the UN World Food Programme has also arrived in Misurata carrying 600 tonnes of foodstuffs that the WFP said could feed more than 40,000 people for a month. more -- http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=4&i=5793