ANKARA
Turkey slammed Tuesday Libya's internationally recognized government's decision to cancel the contracts of Turkish firms operating in Libya.
Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani's government, which only controls the eastern part of Libya since the capital Tripoli fell into the hands of an armed group called Libya Dawn, have announced a ban on Turkish firms on Sunday, claiming Ankara has been dealing with "militias."
Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic contested the decision to exclude Turkish firms from doing business in Libya on Tuesday, saying al-Thani's government was not vying for “peace and stability” in the country, targeting Turkey instead.
"The transitional government in Tobruk, which is expected to make efforts for peace and stability in Libya has, on the contrary, targeted our companies, which work for the development of Libya," said Bilgic.
Tensions between Turkey and al-Thani's government, located in Tobruk, have intensified recently.
In an interview last Thursday with the international Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, the Libyan premier was asked about the evidence he had over the involvement of foreign countries in supporting "terrorist" organizations in Libya.
Al-Thani replied that, in the past there had been evidence of involvement of such nations as Qatar and Sudan, and he alleged that it was now Turkey that was having "a negative impact" on the security and stability of Libya.
“So far, Turkey’s stance has not been correct and we will be forced to take measures," said al-Thani in the interview. "At the end of the day, Turkey will lose because Libya can deal with any other country and Turkish firms are the ones who will lose their investments in Libya."
"In any case, Turkey's and its citizens rights through agreements will be protected and watched by Libyan officials," said the Foreign Ministry spokesman Bilgic, referring to the Tripoli administration, which -- even though its mandate ended in August -- continues to convene in Tripoli.
In the four years since the ouster and subsequent death of the Libyan ruler, Muammar Qaddafi, rival militias have wreaked havoc in Libya's main cities, namely in the capital Tripoli and in the eastern city of Benghazi.
The sharp political divisions have yielded two rival governments, each boasting its own institutions.
Two assemblies currently vie for legislative authority: the House of Representatives, which convenes in the eastern city of Tobruk and has been recognized by major world powers, and the General National Congress, reestablished by the armed group Libya Dawn.
The House of Representatives, in which Abdullah al-Thani serves as Prime Minister, was forced to move to eastern part of the country after the group called "Libya Dawn" seized Tripoli in August 2014.
Ankara recognizes the government in Tobruk but urges both parties to a consensus to form a permanent government in Libya, within the scope of UN negotiations.
Turkey has denied supporting militant groups in Libya.
