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Turkey's recognition of the Transitional National Council (TNC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people, continues to strengthen the international legitimacy of the TNC as the country's only legitimated state authority. This is vital if the regime's frozen international assets are to be channelled to finance the immediate needs of people in the freed territories. For background regarding Libyan frozen assets and the Temporary Funding Mechanism see Watching Libya May 4, 2011, Watching Libya May 7/8, 2011 and Watching Libya May 26, 2011, below.
Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Turkish foreign minister, met with TNC leaders in Benghazi yesterday Sunday, July 3. He declared that Turkey recognised the TNC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. He also committed Turkey to an aid package of at least $ 200 million. Turkey has now also officially withdrawn its ambassador, Salim Levent Sahinkaya, from Tripoli. The latter had, in fact, already left Tripoli in March and never returned. For background regarding Turkey's position and interests in Libya see Watching Libya May 3, 2011 - Update 14:30 CET below.
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