SAM DAGHER: TURKEY ADMITS BANKROLLING LIBYAN REBELS
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BENGHAZI, Libya-Turkey revealed it has been bankrolling Libyan rebel =
leadership over the past month and vowed its unconditional future =
support, underscoring the jostling for influence in postconflict Libya =
already under way among members of the North Atlantic Treaty =
Organization.=20
Turkey’s message Tuesday was delivered by its Foreign Minister Ahmet =
Davutoglu during a surprise visit to Benghazi. He is the most senior =
official from a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization state =
to visit the rebels’ eastern stronghold since Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s =
regime started its quick unraveling over the past week. That occurred in =
the face of a NATO-backed rebel assault against the capital Tripoli and =
surrounding areas in the country’s western half.
Turkey, a pivotal player in Middle Eastern affairs, enjoyed warm ties =
with Col. Gadhafi’s regime, and its companies control a big chunk of the =
lucrative infrastructure sector in the oil-rich North African country.=20
Ankara at first reluctantly backed the start of NATO’s operations =
against Col. Gadhafi in March but then changed policy and recognized the =
rebels when its efforts to broker a peaceful solution failed.
“The Turkish people, and the Turkish government and Turkish officials, =
have overcome bureaucracy and transferred the funds they had promised =
the Libyan people in cash and directly,” said Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head =
of the rebels’ National Transitional Council, during a joint news =
conference with Mr. Davutoglu.
Mr. Abdul Jalil said that if it weren’t for cash handouts from Turkey =
the rebels’ governing body would have been unable to pay salaries and =
provide basic needs, including food, in August.=20
“It’s a new method for transferring money called the Turkish method,” =
added Mr. Abdul Jalil, jokingly referring to the Turkish cash payments.
Mr. Davutoglu said Turkey has given the rebel leadership $100 million in =
cash and another $100 million as “a gift,” and is carrying out =
humanitarian projects valued at $100 million, but declined to provide =
further details.
The Turkish official said he took part in a video teleconference on =
Monday with his counterparts from the so-called Libya contact group, =
which includes the U.S. and other NATO member countries.=20
He said that the group would convene an emergency meeting in Istanbul in =
the coming days, and that topping the agenda would be a possible =
decision to release to the rebel leadership overseas assets worth tens =
of billions of dollars belonging to Col. Gadhafi’s regime but which were =
frozen following United Nations sanctions earlier this year.=20
“We trust the virtuous leadership of Mr. Mustafa Abdul Jalil and we =
stand by him and support him until the very end,” said Mr. Davutoglu, =
offering high praise of the rebel leader.=20
He added that NATO’s operations would continue until the situation was =
brought under control all over the country, and didn’t specifically =
address the fighting in Tripoli.=20
“We won’t accept that any part of Libya be deprived of security and =
stability,” Mr. Davutoglu said.
The media appearance by the two officials seemed to be carefully =
orchestrated, with friendly Turkish reporters selected to ask questions =
that ignored the situation in Tripoli and the dramatic appearance of =
Col. Gadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam last night following a statement by Mr. =
Abdul Jalil that he and a brother Mohammed were in rebel custody.
The defiant appearance of Seif al-Islam, who is wanted for crimes =
against humanity, in front of Western video cameras in Tripoli has =
significantly undermined the credibility of Mr. Abdul Jalil and has =
shocked rebel supporters in Benghazi.=20
Some are already speaking about a conspiracy between the rebel =
leadership and Col. Gadhafi and his family to facilitate their escape =
from Tripoli.=20
Many also see the rebel leadership as being out of touch for staying put =
within the relative safety of Benghazi while the decisive battle for =
Libya rages more than 600 miles to the west.=20
As if offering a dose of belated consolation to his supporters, Mr. =
Abdul Jalil said all those who collaborated with Col. Gadhafi would face =
trial, including himself for serving four years as justice minister =
before the start of the uprising in February.
“I will submit myself to trial for the four years I spent as a minister =
with Moammar Gadhafi,” said Mr. Abdul Jalil before pleading with the =
Libyan people to show mercy and forgiveness.
Write to Sam Dagher at sam.dagher@wsj.com=20
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