ANKARA, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will uncompromisingly continue to protect its rights and interests in the Mediterranean, the country's National Security Council said on Tuesday.

The council said in a statement that it held a face-to-face meeting for the first time in four months to evaluate the "negative approach of these actors towards the legitimate and legal steps" of Ankara in the Mediterranean.

Chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, chiefs of the Turkish security apparatus and relevant ministers discussed domestic and international security issues faced by the country, the statement said.

The council said that the protection of Turkey's rights, interests in land, sea, and air in the Mediterranean "will continue without compromise."

"Turkey will also continue military support to the Libyan government in Tripoli," read the statement.

"The military consultancy services provided by our country will be maintained for the efforts of the legitimate government, which is recognized by the UN, to ensure peace and tranquility throughout the country (Libya)," it said.

Turkey called on the international society to take a "principled stance" against those who target the legitimate Libyan government in Tripoli, said the statement, referring to General Khalifa Haftar who fights the rival UN-backed government.

In 2019, Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding for maritime delimitation with Libya's UN-backed government of national accord, and planned to launch drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean upon the deal.

The agreement fueled tensions in Turkey's dispute with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt over the oil and gas drilling rights in the area.

After sealing a military cooperation deal with the government in Tripoli, Turkey also sent security officials to Libya to support the UN-backed government led by Fayez al-Sarraj. Enditem

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