Turkey maintains firm opposition to no-fly zone over Libya

With European Union heavyweights pushing for a no-fly zone over Libya, Turkey is sticking to its stance against military intervention, a position that has made it an outlier in the international community. "We believe there is no need for military intervention," an anonymous senior Turkish diplomat said yesterday, reiterating Ankara's official line. "There is still ambiguity surrounding Libya as well as many risks. What would happen if one of our military aircraft crashed and its pilot were taken prisoner as part of a NATO mission?" The continued presence of Turkish citizens in the volatile North African country – even following the largest-ever evacuation effort in the Turkish Republic's history – and Turkey's business interests in Libya have prompted the government to take a cautious approach, the diplomat said. "For now it's too early to think about a no-fly zone," he added. Washington and Ankara are aligned on the issue, the diplomat said, referring to recent statements by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates has said action should be taken only with international backing, while the White House has said all options are on the table. To create a no-fly zone, a UN Security Council resolution would be needed. Last week Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said external intervention would only worsen the situation in Libya. Turkey has so far evacuated more than 20,000 people from Libya by air, land and sea, including foreign nationals.