Türkiye denied on Monday a flag state consent request from Operation IRINI, launched by the European Union to oversee an arms embargo on Libya, to inspect one of its ships.
The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) said Ankara refused the inspection of its MV MATILDE A, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution 2292 (2016) on the arms embargo on Libya.
It recalled in a statement the Security Council’s call upon all UN members to cooperate with inspections.
This incident has been repeated frequently due to Ankara's position on the European operation since its launch in 2020.
The Council of the European Union decided to launch, on 31 March 2020, a new Operation called EUNAVOR MED IRINI, mainly maritime and focused on implementing the UN arms embargo on Libya.
IRINI was launched on March 31, 2020 after the first Berlin Conference, with the primary mission to enforce the UN arms embargo to Libya due to the second Libyan civil war.
Since then, it has investigated more than 7,298 ships, conducted almost 385 visits (so-called Friendly Approaches) onboard merchant vessels and 24 inspections.
Furthermore, the Operation has investigated 1,010 suspect flights and provided 40 special reports to the UN Panel of Experts on Libya, most of which referred to violations or possible violations of the arms embargo and oil smuggling activities in the West and in the East of the Country.
It also issued, through the embedded Crime Information Cell, to the relevant Law Enforcement agencies 69 recommendations for inspection of suspect vessels in EU member states’ ports, 54 of which were conducted.
It further inspected 24 suspect vessels, two of which were diverted to a port of an EU member state where their cargo was seized.
It announced in its September report that it monitored 38 suspect flights and continued to monitor 25 airports (and landing strips) and 16 ports (and oil terminals).
It also investigated 156 merchant vessels via radio calls and carried out 18 visits on ships with Masters’ consent.
The report indicated that Türkiye denied consent to board and inspect suspect vessels on eight occasions.
In July, the Turkish ship, MV Parpali, bound for the Libyan port of Misrata, denied request for inspection by Operation IRINI.
Ankara considers the operation “biased.”
Thousands of Turkish forces have been sent to Libya to fight along dozens of mercenaries from armed factions loyal to Türkiye.
This comes in line with the memorandum of understanding on security and military cooperation signed in November 2019 between Türkiye and the Government of National Accord (GNA) then headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.
There are currently about 7,000 mercenaries from armed factions loyal to Türkiye in Libya despite international demands to withdraw all foreign forces.
Türkiye considers its military presence in Libya “legal.”
Ankara says its presence in Libya is aimed at helping the country establish a unified army that brings together all the forces from the east and west under one umbrella.
The Turkish parliament approved in June to extend the armed forces' mandate in Libya for another 18 months from July 2, at the request of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A ship that belongs to the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI to oversee an arms embargo on Libya. (AFP)
