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Brussels: Turkey has again blocked the European Union’s monitoring of a United Nations weapons embargo against Libya, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed on Monday.“We regret, of course, Turkey’s denial of Irini’s request to inspect another ship, which is called MV Parpali, on Sunday afternoon,” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Nabila Massrali said in a press conference. Massrali was referring to the EU’s Operation Irini monitoring mission, established in May 2020, which aims to stabilize war-torn Libya and support the UN-led political peace process. On Monday, the mission’s Rome-based command centre announced Turkey’s veto on Twitter, referring to the UN’s security council resolution 2292 on the arms embargo on Libya and called for Turkey’s compliance. MV Parpali is Turkish-flagged and therefore not allowed to be inspected against the wishes of Turkish authorities. Ankara has blocked previous inspections eight times Massrali said. In February 2021, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry vetoed the search of two merchant ships suspected of being used for illegal transports to the war-torn North African country. Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Gaddafi. It has become a battleground for rival proxy forces, which has in turn drawn in foreign powers. (dpa)
