Turkey says it backs Mali intervention to restore democracy

Following a long silence on the French-led intervention in Mali backed by the African country's neighbors, Turkey finally threw its weight behind the military operation against rebels in the country's north and said it believes in the benefit of the implementation of a recent UN Security Council resolution in this regard. A Foreign Ministry statement on Thursday said Ankara is closely monitoring developments in Mali and it will continue supporting international efforts to restore national reconciliation and democracy through free elections as fighting raged on the seventh day of the French-led military intervention to wrest back Mali's north from al-Qaeda-linked groups. Northern Mali fell under rebel control after a March military coup in Bamako triggered a Tuareg-led rebel offensive that seized the north and split the West African nation in two. France, which has poured hundreds of troops into the Malian capital Bamako in recent days, carried out increased air raids this week in the vast desert area seized last year by an alliance grouping al-Qaeda's north African wing, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), alongside Mali's home-grown Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA) and Ansar Dine militant groups. Stressing the importance Turkey attaches to the territorial integrity of Mali, Ankara said it hopes Mali will embrace peace in the shortest period possible. The statement noted that Turkey believes in the benefit of rapid implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2085 and supports decisions of the African Union and the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS). Resolution 2085 was approved unanimously in December last year. Although it authorized military intervention in Mali, it set benchmarks for preparations for the operation. But it also authorized UN members to provide "coordinated assistance" to help Mali restore authority over the entire country. Regional bloc ECOWAS received a UN mandate for an African force in December but a southward advance by the rebels this month and the subsequent French intervention forced them to deploy sooner than planned. At least eight West African countries, including Chad, Togo and Nigeria, have promised contingents. The statement also added that Turkey attaches particular importance to the resolution of the Mali crisis through peaceful means. A former French colony, Mali once enjoyed a reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies with the majority of its 15 million people practicing a moderate form of Islam. That changed last March, following a coup in the capital which created the disarray that allowed extremists to take over the main cities in the distant north. Security experts warn that the extremists are carving out their own territory in northern Mali from which they can plot terror attacks in Africa and Europe. Estimates of how many fighters the rebels have range from less than 1,000 to several thousand. The militants are well-armed and funded and include recruits from other countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has discussed the crisis in Mali with Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) chief Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu and exchanged views on steps the organization can take in this respect. "As always, Turkey will continue supporting our brotherly people of Mali and their government. In this regard, we will continue our strong support in the political and economic spheres following the restoration of peace and stability," the statement noted.