France welcomes the launch of EU's Operation Irini off Libya
Paris, France (PANA) - France on Wednesday welcomed the launch of the new European Union (EU) military operation off Libya, dubbed Irini (from the Greek word "peace"), the objective of which is to implement the United Nations arms embargo.
"France welcomes the launch which will allow it to contribute, by naval, air and satellite means, to the implementation of the United Nations arms embargo. This operation demonstrates EU's determined commitment to act together to defend their political and security interests which are at stake in the context of the Libyan crisis," said Agnès von der Mühll, director of communications and the press, spokesperson for the Quai d'Orsay.
Through this operation, the European Union is acting to ensure that calls for compliance with the arms embargo and to refrain from interference in the Libyan conflict are translated into action, as the violations continue, as well as the influx of foreign mercenaries, Agnès von der Mühll said.
"The Covid-19 pandemic makes even more urgent the efforts made to reach a cease-fire, following the Berlin Conference on January 19," she added, stressing that France intends actively to contribute to this new operation, which should contribute to de-escalation in the crisis in Libya.
Agnès von der Mühll called on the representatives of the two Libyan warring parties "to commit themselves to the cease-fire agreement proposed on February 23 as part of the Geneva discussions under the aegis of the United Nations and the resumption of political dialogue, with the assistance of the neighboring countries of Libya and the African Union ”.
Operation Irini, which succeeds Operation Sophia for a renewable period of one year, allows European warships to intervene in the eastern Mediterranean, in areas away from the routes taken by migrant smugglers to join Italy or Malta and allow them to board all ships suspected of arms trafficking, diplomatic sources said.
The situation in Libya has gradually deteriorated with the death of Col. Mouammar Gaddafi and since April 4 with the fighting taking place near Tripoli between troops loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA), chaired by Fayez Al-Sarraj who is recognized by the international community, and the Libyan National Army (ANL), led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar with a toll of more than 1,000 dead and 128,000 displaced.
The two protagonists are supported by foreign countries which do not respect the arms embargo in Libya.
-0- PANA BM/IS/KND/VAO 2April2020
