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Greece, Cyprus, Israel react to Turkish decision to send troops to Libya

Featured Greece, Cyprus, Israel react to Turkish decision to send troops to Libya

«The Turkish decision to deploy troops in Libya presents a dangerous threat to regional stability. This decision constitutes a gross violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), imposing an arms embargo in Libya and seriously undermines the international community’s efforts to find a peaceful, political solution to the Libyan conflict. It marks a dangerous escalation of the conflict and a significant deterioration of the situation. Turkey should not violate the Libyan Political Agreement and related United Nations resolutions. The repercussions of such a reckless move will be dire for the stability and peace of the entire region. Ankara should refrain from taking such action, which blatantly violates Libyan national sovereignty and independence» said a common statement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President of the Cyprus Republic Nicos Anastasiades and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Turkey's parliament on Thursday authorized the deployment of troops to Libya to support the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli that is battling forces loyal to a rival government seeking to capture the capital.

Turkish lawmakers voted 325-184 at an emergency session in favor of a one-year mandate allowing the government to dispatch troops amid concerns that Turkish forces could aggravate the conflict in Libya and destabilize the region.