Çavuşoğlu: We Work to Reduce Tensions Between US and Iran

* Photo: Cem Özdel / Anadolu Agency

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu organized an evaluation meeting on the foreign policy of Turkey in 2019 today (January 6).

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), addressing the reporters at the Directorate of European Union (EU), Minister Çavuşoğlu said that Khalifa Haftar's forces had the upper hand in Libya in terms of air forces, in response to a question on Libya.

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Situation in Libya

"We also agreed with the UN Secretary General in our meeting yesterday evening", Çavuşoğlu said and added, "Everyone should understand this: There will be no winner of this war. If we do not stop it, it will continue for a long time. Especially if Trablus gets involved in this, it will continue for a long time and several people will die."

Referring to the air strike that targeted a military school in the capital city of Trablus and claimed the lives of 30 students the other day, Çavuşoğlu warned that such incidents could lead to developments that would eventually result in the country's separation.

Killing of Soleimani

Minister Çavuşoğlu also referred to the killing of Iran's General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq last week:

"The killing of Soleimani in Iraq has posed a serious risk and threat to the peace and stability of our region. We are making efforts to reduce the tensions between the US and IRan through diplomacy."

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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan phoned with President of France Emmanuel Macron, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani, President of Iraq Barham Salih and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Sani and would also speak with other leaders such as Prime Minister of England Boris Johnson and Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in the days to come, said Çavuşoğlu and added:

"We will keep on working with other countries in following days. As you know, [President of Russia Vladimir] Putin will come to İstanbul on Wednesday (January 8). Putin and our President will handle this issue in person.

"We are all especially concerned that Iraq will be a field of conflict for other countries, for third countries. It is a very serious risk for Iraq and our region.

"We are still in contact with Iraq. When we talked to him on the phone, we saw that President of Iraq Barham Salih had the same concerns.

"Therefore, as I have said earlier, we will keep on doing our part in our efforts to abate this spiral of violence." (DB/SD)