Erdogan, EU chief Michel hold Libya meeting in Istanbul
"Meeting in Istanbul with president @RTErdogan on how #EU and Turkey can work together to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East and in Libya," Michel tweeted after the meeting, with a picture of the two shaking hands.
The meeting lasted for two hours at the Dolmabahce palace and was focused on "regional developments as well as Turkey-EU relations," state news agency Anadolu reported.
Michel is also expected on Sunday to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi in Cairo.
Turkey and Egypt are backing opposing sides in Libya's civil war, which has drawn regional powers into it as well as Russia.
European diplomats have been involved in intense diplomacy to curb foreign interference in Libya, fearing it will only fuel the violence.
Russia and Turkey have called for a ceasefire at midnight on January 12, but General Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Moscow, has vowed to keep fighting.
Ankara expects Moscow to "convince Haftar [of a ceasefire] as they had promised" Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday in Istanbul.
Turkey can agree to talks with Haftar for a political solution in Libya on condition that the military strongman "comply with the ceasefire and stop his attacks," Cavusoglu said.
"We are supporting the Berlin process," the Turkish minister added.
Germany is preparing for a conference on Libya in Berlin but has not fixed a date for it yet.
The EU hopes that the Berlin process can reach a political agreement, EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Josep Borrell said late on Friday in Brussels.
"We will have to focus on monitoring the ceasefire, on controlling the arms embargo and other security measures," Borrell added.
Turkey, along with Qatar, supports the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in the capital Tripoli, and has dispatched troops to bolster the GNA.
Struggling for power with the GNA, Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army is also backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Gaddafi, but violence has intensified since April, when Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli.
dpa
