Turkish policy is to enable a peaceful transition to democracy – starting with Gaddafi stepping down
At the beginning of this month, the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called upon Muammar Gaddafi to step down immediately in order to allow a new political process to begin in Libya. Erdogan's call complemented the roadmap for Libya he announced in April.
The roadmap has three main components: introducing an immediate ceasefire, establishing a humanitarian aid corridor, and starting a process for a new political order in Libya, which means Gaddafi leaving office. All three are essential for moving beyond the current situation and establishing a free and democratic Libya. The roadmap has garnered considerable international support – last week its three components were adopted at the Libya contact group meeting in Rome, with US, Italian and Arab ministers showing public support.
The roadmap also reveals how Turkey sees its role in the wider Arab world. Since the events in Libya began, and after the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Turkey has used intensive diplomacy to try to prevent two potential disasters: a protracted civil war in Libya, or partition. The Turkish government opposed foreign intervention without international legitimacy and broad consensus. It insisted on placing the implementation of the UN security council resolutions 1970 and 1973 under the Nato umbrella. Erdogan also voiced concern over the possibility of western interventionism causing irreparable damage in Libya, as it has in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Contrary to prevailing propaganda, Erdogan's roadmap was not a call for inaction. Through intense diplomacy and communication with both Tripoli and Benghazi, Turkey has sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. After carrying out a massive evacuation mission and helping with thousands of other nationals as well as the release of a number of western journalists, the Turkish government intensified its diplomatic efforts while implementing the UN resolutions. It also completed the largest humanitarian aid operation since the beginning of the conflict, bringing hundreds of wounded people from Benghazi, Misrata and other Libyan cities to Turkey for treatment.
The guiding principle for Turkish policy on Libya has been to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy and rule of law as inspired by the Arab spring and demanded by the people of Libya.
In an interview with the Guardian in March, Erdogan said: "We can never ignore the democratic rights and liberties called for by the people of Libya, and change and transformation can never be delayed or postponed." He added that Gaddafi, who claims to have no formal position to resign from, should "lay the foundation for such a transformation".
Now the task before us is to implement the roadmap in a timely and effective manner. As the military leg of the Nato mission in Libya appears to have reached an impasse, and the possibility of prolonged fighting looms large, efforts need to be concentrated on an immediate ceasefire and starting the political process. Turkey is working with both its Nato allies and Arab countries to make this happen.
It is not possible to turn an autocratic regime into a democracy overnight. One needs patience, prudence, solidarity and leadership to establish the principles of justice, equality and rule of law as well as the institutions that will support them.
This is true in Libya as well as in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and other places. It is clear that the moment of change has finally come to the Arab world. Turkey will continue to support the process of reform and democratisation and urge governments to listen to the legitimate demands of their people.