Turkish plane loaded with medical aid for Libya cleared to land in Tunisia
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - A Turkish plane loaded with medical aid for Libya has been cleared by the Tunisian presidency to land at Djerba-Zarzis International Airport in southeastern Tunisia, an official statement issued on Thursday said.
However, the Presidency of the Tunisian Republic stated that it had made it a condition that the aid be delivered to the Tunisian authorities, who will take it to the Ras Jadir border crossing to deliver it to the Libyan side.
The Tunisian authorities quickly issued this clarification in an attempt to anticipate possible interpretations by political forces and civil society organizations that are following with particular attention all events affecting the situation in Libya.
The recent authorization of Libyan planes to land at Monastir airport while the airspace was closed due to the spread of the new coronavirus had provoked a lot of reaction in Tunisian political circles.
Tunisia's defence minister denied rumours on 28 April that Turkey was using a military base in southern Tunisia to carry out strikes against Libya.
Tunisia will not allow a foreign military force to use its land for military operations, the ministry said.
Since the outbreak of the Libyan crisis, Tunisian political activists and lawyers have warned of pressure on their country to allow its land to be used as an intelligence and military platform against Libya's "sister" Republic.
-0- PANA YY/IN/JSG/BBA/MA 8May2020
