Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Legislation
  • War On Terror
  • EU Affairs
  • Elections
  • News Analysis

Turkey criticizes 'biased' EU decision over Libya arms embargo

by Daily Sabah with Agencies

ISTANBUL Sep 22, 2020 - 10:02 am GMT+3
Edited By Nurbanu Tanrıkulu Kızıl
A member of forces allied to Libya's internationally recognized government stands near a destroyed military vehicle that belonged to putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar, in Gharyan, south of Tripoli, Libya, June 27, 2019. (Reuters Photo)
A member of forces allied to Libya's internationally recognized government stands near a destroyed military vehicle that belonged to putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar, in Gharyan, south of Tripoli, Libya, June 27, 2019. (Reuters Photo)
by Daily Sabah with Agencies Sep 22, 2020 10:02 am
Edited By Nurbanu Tanrıkulu Kızıl
RECOMMENDED
Rescuers look on as they sit on rubble, following an earthquake in Hatay Province, Türkiye, Feb. 7, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Egypt, Armenia extend condolences to Türkiye

türkiye-egypt-relations

Turkey criticized the decision by the European Union to impose sanctions on a Turkish maritime company for allegedly violating the United Nations' arms embargo on Libya.

"It has no value in our sight to add our maritime company to the sanctions list in the context of Libya as a result of the EU Foreign Affairs Council's meeting," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

The EU on Monday froze the assets of Avrasya Shipping, whose cargo vessel Cirkin was involved in a naval incident between NATO members France and Turkey in June.

The EU has accused the company of using the ship to smuggle weapons to Libya. Ankara denies the arms-trafficking claim and says the ship was carrying humanitarian aid.

The statement continued by noting that it is “extremely unfortunate” that such a decision was taken at a time when efforts are ongoing to reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Foreign Ministry accused the EU’s Operation Irini of supporting the putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar in Libya and punishing the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

Operation Irini, approved by EU foreign ministers on March 31 of this year, aims to operate in the air and sea and with satellites to ensure that all countries respect a ban on providing arms to the parties involved in the Libyan conflict.

"Overlooking those countries and companies, starting with the UAE, that send weapons from land and air to the putschist Haftar in violation of the (U.N. Security Council) decisions, while the support provided to the legitimate government ... is deemed an embargo violation, is a clear signal that the EU is ... biased," the ministry said.

It said if the EU wants security and stability in the region, it should abandon this biased attitude and act in consultation and cooperation with Turkey.

Although the operation aims to enforce the U.N. arms embargo on Libya's warring sides, it mainly focuses on maritime activities in the Mediterranean, while Haftar's side – the enemy of the legitimate Libyan administration – continues to receive arms and ammunition mainly by air and land, according to Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj.

The U.N. recognizes the Libyan government headed by Sarraj as the country's legitimate authority.

Libya's legitimate government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since last April, and more than 1,000 people have been killed in the violence.

Haftar has the support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia, while the U.N.-recognized government is backed by Turkey.

Russia and the UAE have been providing arms and military equipment to Haftar’s forces.

Some 70 resupply flights have landed in eastern airports in support of Haftar's forces since July 8, Stephanie Williams, deputy head of the U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for political affairs, told the U.N. Security Council.

In the same period, 30 flights and nine cargo ships carried materials to western Libya to assist the GNA in Tripoli.

A U.N. report revealed that Russia has stepped up its logistic support for the private military contractor Wagner Group in Libya with some 338 military cargo flights from Syria in the nine months leading up to July 31 to aid Wagner fighters backing eastern-based Haftar.

RECOMMENDED
Rescuers look on as they sit on rubble, following an earthquake in Hatay Province, Türkiye, Feb. 7, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Egypt, Armenia extend condolences to Türkiye

türkiye-egypt-relations
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    turkey-libya relations turkey-eu relations libya crisis united nations
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Rescue teams gather in Istanbul Airport to head to zones hit by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in southeastern Türkiye. (DHA Photo)

    Condolences messages pour for victims of quake in SE Türkiye

    earthquake
    Dark smoke rises after a fire broke out among containers toppled at a major port in the Mediterranean coastal city of Iskenderun following an earthquake, southern Türkiye, Jan. 6, 2023. (AA Photo)

    Deadly quake damages Türkiye's energy infrastructure, major port

    earthquake

    Want to help earthquake victims in Türkiye? Here's how 

    earthquake-in-türkiye

    Earthquakes in Türkiye moved Anatolia up to 10 meters: Seismologist

    türkiye
    No Image
    In photos: Impact of COVID-19 on women around the world
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021