The Turkish AKP government is pursuing a neo-Ottoman project and is trying to bring the former Ottoman-occupied states under its influence. In this context, Libya, with its government dominated by the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, represents an important bridgehead for Turkish expansionism in North Africa. Egypt in particular feels threatened and on Monday agreed to a possible military deployment against the advance of the Sarraj government and its Turkish auxiliary troops. In an interview with ANF, former deputy Egyptian foreign minister and ambassador Jamal Bayoumi commented on current developments.

"We should not wait and we must defend our citizens"

From many circles in Libya, tribal leaders, sheikhs and the parliament comes the demand for Egypt to take a stand on the Libyan question. How do you assess the current situation?

Article 50 of the UN Convention recognises the right to self-defence. If someone stands up and says that this applies only to internal security, that may be permissible, but it is important to know that there are more than two million Egyptian citizens in Libya at the moment and Egypt has an obligation to defend them and should not wait until the threat reaches the Egyptian border. Turkey is playing the Muslim Brotherhood card to control the region. Turkey's evil game is becoming more obvious every day. At the same time a decision was also taken in Jordan in this context, and now this situation must be tackled together.

Sarraj has met with Turkey and concluded an agreement on common defence. If this is right, it means that the Turkish state is trying to intervene with the help of the militias it is bringing into the region from Syria and elsewhere. The meetings with the tribes in Libya are important. Many points were discussed and the Egyptian president was given the power to intervene. They recognize our right to defend ourselves against all threats against Egypt according to the UN Convention. We will also defend ourselves within this framework. We recall that Great Britain occupied Egypt for 70 years on the grounds of a dead citizen. That was enough to occupy Egypt and suddenly to enter the port of Alexandria with British cruisers.

How do you think Egypt should protect its two million citizens in Libya? Is there not a danger of coming into conflict with the army of another state?

Egypt has the right to intervene at the appropriate time. We have made three statements on this point. Firstly, the President has made a speech calling for preparations. After that speech, everyone began to consider whether Egypt was ready and whether its war planes could reach the necessary areas. The second message was given during military exercise we all followed. It was shown how the planes and the infantry units with missiles prepare for war. Many similar pictures were shown. The things you can't see are much more important. A small part of Egypt's capabilities was shown. We were not interested in reassuring the citizens of Egypt for a short time. We wanted to show the countries concerned that this is not a game. The third message was the statement made by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his participation in the Security Council telephone conference. Anyone who looks closely at the situation knows that Egypt is warning the powers that be and their mercenaries. There is an agreement between Turkey, the Mediterranean states and the EU. The main points of the agreement are about joint action against terror, human smuggling and corruption. But with Turkey's incursion in Libya, all these four points have been violated and they continue to be flouted.

"Turkey is acting in a highly unethical manner and wants an occupation"

Does this mean that Egypt will intervene in Libya?

Turkey's behaviour is highly unethical and the problem of the Muslim Brotherhood is very worrying. We stood against them in Egypt, fought them and broke their backs. We will watch them and expose all their plans. At the moment the Muslim Brotherhood in Tunisia is also on the verge of disintegration. They are practically finished. In Jordan too, the Muslim Brotherhood has been classified as an illegal organisation.

Is Turkey only interested in occupying Libya or is it also interested in sending a message to the other Arab states?

Yes, that is right, Turkey's ambitions have now become very clear. Turkey intends to stay there for centuries. That's what Erdoğan’s defence minister himself tells when he says, 'This is our country, you came and occupied it'. So why doesn't he go straight to Austria and Macedonia? All this shows very clearly what it's really all about. The Turkish state is eager to take over territories and occupy them.

To what extent is Egypt prepared to tolerate the transfer of militias of the Muslim Brotherhood by Turkey to Libya?

Yes, Turkey wants to actively intervene in the situation with these groups it has gathered here. It has pulled together many of these troops, and five divisions are said to have been established. The forces it has pulled together from Libya and Egypt are called the 5th Division. They try to mingle with the population. The attitude of the people towards these forces, which are even worse than the militias, is clear. They have collaborated with terrorists against us. Everyone knows that. But their plans are being closely monitored and will continue to be so. Moreover, Turkey is not only invading Libya, but is also forcibly invading Syria and Iraq and occupying the regions permanently.

Why do you think that nobody at international level is saying anything against Turkey's systematic violation of international law?

Turkey is openly being hostile. Erdoğan tries to bring back the empire from the past, he wants to occupy Northern Iraq and occupies Syria. I would like to issue a warning. Turkey is trying to use the latest changes as an opportunity to occupy Syria completely.

We try to use all peaceful and civil ways to reach a solution and we knock on all doors. France is helping us here. French President Macron declared that Turkey's actions were directed against NATO. Germany, Italy, Greece and Cyprus are also bringing the same complaints against Turkey. We also know that the EU representatives are considering what sanctions or economic penalties they can impose on Turkey for its aggressive action.

What perspectives did you bring from the diplomatic meetings?

We have started to work on winning the world public against Turkey. The situation is perfectly obvious to Europe and NATO, and we expect this position to be extended to Russia and many Arab states. But the US stnd is also accepted - that is, they see Turkey as a strategic partner and use it against Russia. But the US also knows that without security for Egypt nothing is possible in the Middle East.

How do you view the stand of the US?

The attitude of the US is reflected in the attitude of the Gulf States. It is obvious that the Gulf States know and understand Turkey's plans.

What is the attitude of the Arab states towards Erdoğan’s neo-Ottoman expansionism?

Qatar is on Turkey's side and accepts its ideas. But it is not only about Qatar, there are a few more countries and forces behind it in these states. Especially countries like Tunisia and Algeria, which do not see the danger of the Turkish project yet, have to deal with this question and take a stand.

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