Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Benghazi on July 2 and met with Libyan Rebel Leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil, where he issued a public recognition of Libya’s Transitional National Council by Turkey. Davutoglu stated that he was visiting Benghazi “to express solidarity with the Libyan people,” and that Turkey sees the Transitional National Council as the “legitimate representative of the Libyan people to achieve their goals." "Public demand for reforms should be answered, Gaddafi should go and Libya shouldn't be divided," said Mr. Davutoglu. The Foreign Minister also stated that Turkey has given the Transitional National Council $ 100 million in aid and pledged an additional $ 200 million.
Turkey held an estimated $ 15 billion in mainly construction contracts in Libya, with over 200 Turkish companies and nearly 25,000 Turkish citizens living there when violence first broke out in February. At the time, the country organized its largest evacuation mission in its modern history and was able to safely move all its citizens and hundreds of foreign nationals from Libya within a matter of days. Until it closed its diplomatic missions in Libya, Turkey also performed consular and diplomatic functions for the U.S., Britain, Italy and Australia and was instrumental in brokering the release of four New York Times journalists held by Libyan forces.
Turkey initially opposed military actions against the Libyan regime, but became an early supporter of a NATO-led mission and helped to enforce the naval enforcement of the arms embargo against Libya. Turkey also evacuated hundreds of wounded from Libyan rebel strongholds and provided humanitarian aid under Turkish military protection.
Mr. Davutoglu’s visit and Turkey’s recognition of the Transitional National Council is regarded as an important setback for Gaddafi, while bolstering the Libyan opposition, and could aid a new round of talks between the two fractions.