The Foreign Ministers of Libya, Malta and the Republic of Turkey held a meeting in Tripoli on 6th August, 2020 to discuss the latest situation in Libya and the joint cooperation between the three states.

The relevant interview is not the first meeting of these three states. On July 20, 2020, a meeting was held at the Ministry of National Defence upon the invitation of Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar with the participation of Minister of Interior of Libya Fethi Başağa and Minister of National Security and Interior of Malta Byron Camilleri.

Malta and Turkey expressed their support for the internationally-recognized Libyan GNA, stressing that there was no military solution to the Libyan crisis and that Libya’s stability and security were vital. Delegations from the three countries expressed reservations about the IRINI operation and the shortcomings of the operation.

The considerations agreed upon are as follows:

1. Maintaining joint cooperation between the countries, ensuring and encouraging the return of both Maltese and Turkish companies in Libya, resumption of flights between the three countries
2. Illegal migration poses a threat not only to the EU but also to Libya, where there is a need to strengthen Libya’s southern borders and combat human and migrant trafficking. Malta and Turkey expressed their readiness to support the national reconciliation government in this regard by supplying the material and equipment it needs to increase the capacity of the Libyan Coast Guard.
3. Emphasizing the importance of the EU’s participation in the fight against the root causes of illegal migration by helping the development of source countries;
4. Establishing a joint working team to coordinate efforts and cooperation to transform all agreed issues into concrete and workable projects.