PM Erdogan: "Libya should forge its own destiny"

Stressing that Turkey's stance towards events in Libya is not emotional but based on principle, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the Libyan people deserve a dignified life and should decide their own future in unity. "We say of Libya without hesitation exactly what we said about Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon," Erdgoan told a parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). "We are shouting that brother should not strike brother. We want people to have lives with human dignity." He added, "Libya itself should resolve its issues at once. We want Libyans to embrace each other and find their own way." He also praised recent decisions by the Arab League and African Union as promoting "Libya's future, peace and welfare." In an interview with Al-Arabiya television on Monday, Erdogan said that he had spoken to embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi about ways to end Libya's crisis, and urged him to appoint a new leader with popular support to help find a solution. "In all issues and disagreements in the region, as a country able to hold dialogue with all parties, Turkey is completely fulfilling its responsibilities," Erdogan said, brushing off criticisms that Ankara is hedging on the Libyan crisis. "Turkey is acting on principles and with consistency; it is acting with principles rather than emotions," he said. "On the Libya issue, too, we put forth our principles. We made the necessary warnings without hesitation and gave the necessary advice. We will continue standing upright, being principled, and producing policies through these principles."