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Sometimes your fate calls you back to old times. The spokesman of the founding party of the Republic of Turkey, providing his opinions in the discussion on the maritime jurisdiction agreements made with Libya, said: ''What are we doing in Libya? Do we want to make our troops legionnaires?" We only need to go back 100 years in history to refresh our memories on the occupation of Libya by Italians and the reason that Mustafa Kemal Pasha and Enver Pasha were involved in Libya.

When the "note" sent by Italy, requesting ownership of Tripoli and Benghazi, reached Grand Vizier brahim Hakk Pasha on Sept. 23, he was playing bridge with Italian Robilant Pasha and his wife. Robilant Pasha supposedly was in Turkey for making reforms and improvements in the gendarmerie.

For a while, Grand Vizier Hakk Pasha did not open the envelope and delayed the reply. Still awaiting a response, Italy sent a second note on Sept. 28 to be answered within 24 hours and announced that it would declare war.

Hakk Pasha hurriedly gathered the Cabinet in his own mansion, and they together headed to the palace at midnight. In the reply written in the morning, it was declared that "Italy would be granted more commercial and political concessions if the occupation is stopped, and the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire is respected."

Despite this reply, Italy declared war on the Ottomans on Sept. 29 and after bombarding Tripoli for one day from the sea, occupied Tripoli, which was protected by three companies of soldiers. The division in Libya had been sent to Yemen after Mahmut evket Pasha asked for reinforcements to squash the rebellion there.

The situation in Tripoli created chaos. Grand Vizier Hakk Pasha resigned, saying, "The Grand Viziers in my position would be beheaded on steppingstones by the sultans in history." Said Pasha was appointed in his place on Sept. 30.

Staff Maj. Enver, who was serving as military attache in Berlin, immediately came to Istanbul and met the Turkish sultan amid this critical environment. He had to run to the Libyan Front secretly with Fuat Bey (Bulca), his uncle Halil Bey Pasha, Ekrem Bey and his brother Nuri Bey Pasha. On the other hand, Ali Fethi Bey, the military attache to Paris, reached Libya via Tunisia.

However, this was not easy. The Ottoman Empire did not have any land connection with Libya because Egypt was occupied by the British, and the Italian navy controlled the sea route, ruling out travel by sea.

Enver Pasha made a plan. He would go to Libya by land through Alexandria in disguise. First, he sent a message to Circassian Kuuba Eref Bey, one of the most trusted officers who was subsequently appointed to the management of Ottoman imperial government special forces (Tekilt- Mahsusa), and asked him to go to Alexandria with the officers he trusted.

When Kuuba Eref received the message, he was traveling between Bitlis, Mu and Van provinces with an officer from the Hamidiye Regiment and discussing and preparing a report on the situation of the region with the authorities. He quickly began to send messages by telegraph.

The news that the Italians attacked Libya began reaching everyone quickly by telegraph. Kuuba Eref sent his first message to Sleyman Asker in Baghdad, who had been his friend since his military education in Edirne, and then to the others.

Sleyman Asker reached Alexandria with his fellow officers Cemil Bey and Tevfik Beyand Fehmi Bey, disguised as madrasah students, and Kuuba Eref also came to Alexandria on Oct. 29 with Mustafa Kemal, Mmtaz from zmit, mer Naci, Yakup Cemil, Hakk from Sapanca, Nuri Conker, Circassian Reid (the brother of Circassian Ethem), Nazm from Thessaloniki, Niyazi from Beikta, Sheikh Salih Tunisi and Emir Ali Pasha, the son of Abdulkadir Cezayiri, the national hero of Algeria.

The group's journey to Tripoli began in mid-November. Kuuba Eref separated everyone into small groups in order not to be caught by British patrols, but when Mustafa Kemal became ill, they let him stay with a Greek doctor, aatis. Mustafa Kemal was unable to leave Alexandria until Dec. 1, 1911, and went to serve under the command of Enver Pasha in Derne province. When he managed to infiltrate Sireneykaya nine weeks after the start of the war, he began hearing the cannon sounds that the soldiers called Enver's ball (midfa'i Enver). Mustafa Kemal was seriously injured in the eye during the most intense period of the war. He was treated by Kuuba Eref in Vienna after returning from Libya.

Enver Pasha arrived in Libya on Oct. 19 and started to organize the resistance in Derne and other regions. In a short period of time, he managed to gather a local force of 20,000 people and issued money for his name.

The 1,320 kilometers of coastline between Egypt and Tunisia was occupied by the Italians at the end of October; however, they were unable to occupy even a few kilometers in the interior part of Libya because Staff Maj. Enver Bey had come with his team and showed strong resistance, especially with the voluntary units made up of the Senussi tribe. The Senussi tribe had been active for 80 years, after coming from Mecca in 1830, and were lead by Seyid Ahmed Sens.

This resistance begun by Enver Bey continued until 1939, but Benito Mussolini, who came to power in Italy, was able to break this resistance with the support of the air force. The Senussi family, the sheikh of the sect, dominated all of North Africa. Enver Bey and his team visited Sensi Sheikh often and received prayers from him. Mustafa Kemal, who met Seyid Ahmed Senussi here to be caliph after Seyid Ahmed Senussi, came to Anatolia to support the national struggle.

We have refreshed our memory with some brief information available in history books. We hope that the founding party of the Republic of Turkey reads the history from 100 years ago and never asks such strange questions again. They should not insult the spirit of the Ottoman officers and Ottoman imperial government special forces (Tekilt- Mahsusa) who have achieved great things in history.

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Why Mustafa Kemal Atatrk and Enver Pasha were in Libya - Daily Sabah

The natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean and repercussions of the Arab Spring yielded significant developments in the regional architecture of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. Chief among them are the trilateral relationship among Israel, Greece and Cyprus and the regional gas forum launched in Cairo in early 2019 with the participation of seven Middle Eastern and European members (including Israel and the Palestinian Authority), with US and European support. Turkey is not a participant in any of these new constellations, viewing them as Mediterranean frameworks designed to exclude it in light of the circumstances in the region.Turkey recently took a surprising counter measure. On November 27, it signed two agreements with Libyas al-Sarraj government one on military cooperation and the other marking the economic maritime borders between the two countries. The maritime agreement generated much regional and international interest, prompting condemnation by various states. Turkey is not a signatory to the UNs Law of the Sea and has a different interpretation regarding the distribution of economic waters among the Mediterranean coastal states. It challenges the rights of Cyprus and the Greek Islands, including Crete, to economic waters of their own and therefore argues that its agreement with Libya complies with the rules of international law.Greece and Cyprus are leading the international opposition to the Turkish-Libyan agreement. Greece sent two missives to the UN, rejecting out of hand the agreement and calling on the Secretary General and the Security Council to discuss the issue. The EU, too, has condemned the agreement and backed its two Hellenic member states in the dispute. Israel, for its part, expressed public and clear support for the Greek position. Russia chose to react mostly to the military cooperation agreement, which, according to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow constitutes a grave breach of the arms embargo on Libya.It should be noted that Libya is a divided state, with one government in Tripoli headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, which has won de facto recognition by the international community, and another headed by Gen. Khalifa Haftar, which enjoys the support of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (but is also flirting with other states and entities, including Russia), located in Tobruk. This explains international concern over growing escalation in the Libyan civil war, especially given the involvement of many foreign players.What, then, is the point of the Turkish move and whom is it meant to challenge?Both Libyan-Turkish agreements, and especially the one delineating their maritime borders, are designed to challenge the anti-Turkish constellation that has emerged in recent years and currently includes concrete energy-related cooperation. The agreements, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan clearly stated, are designed to signal Turkeys intention to insist on its rights in the region. Turkey is also seeking to convey its message by drilling in Cypriot economic waters (which, as mentioned, Turkey does not recognize). The latest Turkish moves mainly address Greece and Cyprus (over the interpretation of economic waters), but also Egypt. A deep and wide-ranging rivalry exists between Egypt and Turkey since al-Sisi assumed power. Turkeys Libyan move is generating great anger in Cairo, and Egypt is expected to respond with intensive measures vis--vis the Libyan arena, perhaps even with an effort to overturn the agreements (which are defined as memoranda of understanding, a fact which has raised various interpretations regarding their legally binding status).Israel, too, views the agreements as measures of Turkish defiance, as expressed in Erdogans statement that Israel, Greece, Cyprus and Egypt would not be able to make any move in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin without Turkish approval. The Turkish move poses an additional challenge to the ambitious plans for a gas pipeline from Israel to Europe that will now have to go through territorial economic waters to which Turkey lays claim. Israel therefore immediately took a stand supportive of Greece. However, it is important to point out that Israel is currently in what can be called the second circle of those to whom the Turkish move is addressed. As mentioned, marking the economic waters between Turkey and Libya directly clashes with the Greek-Cypriot stand and interpretation. It challenges, creatively it must be said, the new Mediterranean architecture, with Israel at its center to a large extent and which isolates Ankara (even though Israel insists that its regional alliances are not directed against any country). However, the November 2019 incident between an Israeli research vessel and Turkish navy ships, along with the summoning of Israels top diplomat in Ankara to the Turkish Foreign Ministry over the Turkish-Libyan agreement, move Israeli involvement up a notch and will force Israel to consider a more direct reaction vis--vis Ankara.In any case, we can expect to witness extensive diplomatic activity aimed at ensuring that the Turkish-Libyan agreements do not overly exacerbate relations in the region, which are already at risk of escalation, and the situation on the ground in Libya. Russias moves (Erdogan was quick to appeal to Moscow on the issue) will be especially interesting given its complex and often contradictory links with the two sides in Libya, although it views the Syrian arena (where it has close ties with Turkey) as more important. Egypts reaction will also be of great interest, given its central role in the new architecture of the Eastern Med Basin and major interests in the Libyan arena.Israel, for its part, would do well to adhere to the regional relationship painstakingly built in recent years, with considerable success, and to support the position of its allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. The current architecture serves Israeli interests well, and in principle, its public position that avoids highlighting Ankaras confrontational stance leaves it sufficient room for maneuver in the current circumstances. Turkeys direct and more assertive messages are now putting to the test Israels decision to avoid direct public clashes with Ankara. Israel has to hone its position now by emphasizing the regional alliances, without overly exacerbating the already tense and complex situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin.The writer is a policy fellow at Mitvim The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, and formerly the Israeli ambassador to Cyprus.

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Turkey and Libya challenge Israels allies in the Mediterranean - The Jerusalem Post

In the Libyan capital Tripoli, where war casts a long shadow over everyday life, a church offers something of a sanctuary for Christian migrants.

Saint Francis Catholic Church in the heart of Tripoli is a place of comfort and hope for Christmas, this year, more than ever.

"Attendance is in line with normal, at least so far", Maltese Bishop George Bugeja, 57, told AFP.

"We have kept the celebrations the same as usual."

"I find life very difficult but here at the church... I forget I am in Libya, if only for a few hours", Nigerian engineer Jonathan Joshua said.

The 30-year-old arrived in the country four years ago and lives and works in the capital's eastern suburbs.

"If the situation allows", he makes the trip to the church to attend Mass, making himself useful as an usher.

In early April, strongman Khalifa Haftar -- who has long held sway in eastern Libya -- launched a military offensive against the capital, seat of the UN recognised Government of National Accord. Deadly fighting in Tripoli's southern reaches has hit civilians, and left migrants more vulnerable than ever.

A July 3 airstrike killed 53 people at a detention centre for migrants in the eastern suburb of Tajoura.

- Laughter and tears -

On Friday afternoons -- a weekend in Libya -- the calm pervading outside the church doors contrasts against incessant comings and goings inside.

Christians, all foreigners, take the opportunity to flock to their place of worship.Sporting a white jacket and black trousers, Jonathan confers with fellow ushers for a candlelight mass as Christmas approaches.

Various languages mingle in the festive air, along with the laughter and tears of children impatient for the start of the ceremony.

Six young girls flap the wings of their costumes while slipping between the church pews, but are quickly brought back in line by Jonathan, anxious to ensure a degree of order.

The biggest Christian communities in Tripoli by nationality are from the Philippines, India and Pakistan, working in the health and construction sectors in particular.

Many others are from sub-Saharan Africa and particularly vulnerable due to a lack of immigration paperwork.

- 'Not much choice' -

Mgr Bugeja said there has been a steady stream of Filipinos and Nigerians going home because of the deteriorating security situation.

There was once a very large Filipino community "but now we are far fewer", said 62-year-old Erlinda, a nurse who has lived in Libya for 37 years.

She arrived at the age of 25, married a Libyan and bore four children, all of whom are now themselves married.

"Our life is here. My husband, my children and their families live and work in Libya".

While most Filipinos have left, others are reluctant to go home."They find it difficult to find work if they return home," Erlinda said. "We have a stable life here. At our age, it is retirement or we start again from zero".

For Erlina and her family, "the church is a reliable place... of peace and joy and sharing, above all in this period of the year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

"These are moments of spiritual joy".

Italian Berto -- a teacher who arrived five years ago and one of the few Europeans still in Libya's capital said he went to the church just to "take a look".

"Nothing perturbs me in this country anymore. I am used to the life here". "Either you love it or you hate it here", he mused.

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Maltese bishop and his flock seek seasonal solace in war-torn Libya - Times of Malta

Issued on: 16/12/2019 - 19:43Modified: 16/12/2019 - 19:43

In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with FRANCE 24, the International Criminal Court'sChief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda discussed the ICC's ongoing cases regarding Libya, Ivory Coast, the Palestinian Territories, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Philippines.

Speaking to FRANCE 24 from The Hague, the ICC chief prosecutor warned Libyan Marshal Khalifa Haftar that she was monitoring his current offensive on Tripoli. She urged him to hand over one of his lieutenants, Mahmoud al-Werfalli, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court and whom Haftar recently promoted.

On the case against former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo, Bensouda expressed hope that appeals judges would overturn the acquittal granted by the court back in January. She stressed that she was also actively pursuing her investigation into possible crimes by current PresidentAlassaneOuattara's camp.

Bensouda told FRANCE 24 her preliminary probe into potential crimes in the Palestinian territories was nearing its conclusion. She admitted the court had been under pressure by the Trump administration to drop her probe into crimes in Afghanistan, including a ban on her travelling to the US.

She added that she had just recently been authorised by judges to open a probe into crimes against the Rohingya minority by the Myanmar authoritiesbut that it was too early to say if this would involvesenior Myanmar military chiefs.

Finally, Bensouda said her office was looking into crimes in the "war on drugs" in the Philippinesbut that it was not yet possible to say whether thiswould target President Rodrigo Duterte.

Click on the player above to watch the full interview

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Exclusive: ICC chief prosecutor sends warning to Libyan strongman Haftar - The Interview - FRANCE 24

The Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the rejection by the House of Representatives in Tobruk of the Libyan-Turkish MoUs had put the Arab League in trouble.

Aboul Gheit said in a TV interview that Libya is a member of the Arab League and has an internationally recognized government that is called "Government of National Accord", which signed the MoUs with Turkey.

He added that the Arab League received letters on the issue from both sides, but had decided to freeze them as he doesn't want to weaken the Arab League any more, as it is going through the weakest times since it was established in 1945.

The Tobruk-based HoR, and its supporting Arab countries, especially Egypt which hosts the Arab League HQ, rejected the two MoUs between Libya and Turkey.

HoR Speaker Aqila Saleh informed the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres after the signing of the MoUs that the HoR rejects it and called for withdrawing international recognition from the Presidential Council and asked for the HoR to be internationally recognized.

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Libya's Tobruk-based HoR has put the Arab League in trouble - The Libya Observer