NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has discussed the current military operation in Libya with the Turkish authorities, Turkish media said, RIA Novosti reports.
Rasmussen arrived in Turkey after the US decision to hand the responsibility over the operation in Libya to NATO allies on Sunday. The US decided to help with air strikes in Libya for one more day on Monday.
Protests in Libya started in mid-February. People demanded Muammar Gaddafi, who has been in power for over 40 years, resign. International organizations say that thousands have been killed in clashes with law-enforcers.
The UN SC passed a resolution on March 17, introducing a no-fly zone over Libya and allowing a military operation to start. The operation started on March 19, involving UK, France, USA, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Norway.
NATO took full command of the operation in Libya on March 31. The operation was codenamed the Unified Protector. It is aimed at enforcing the embargo on arms transport to Libya, the no-fly zone and protection of civilians.
Turkey spoke out against the operation, yet provided NATO with five military vessels, a submarine and 12 fighters.
Turkish ferry Ankara is to transport over 300 wounded people to the Chemse Port from Libya on Monday. The vessel was escorted by Turkish F-16s and a frigate. The ferry transported approximately 30 foreigners: citizens of Turkey, Ukraine and Netherlands.
Rasmussen said that he plans talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. They also plan to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, reformation of the alliances and establishment of an anti-missile defense.
