EU must get UN okay on Libya embargo watch: Russia

MOSCOW

Russia on Tuesday urged the European Union to get UN Security Council approval for its military operation to enforce the arms embargo on Libya.

The EU's unwillingness to brief the UN on the details of the operation “raises questions,” said Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking via video link to members of the Gorchakov Club for public diplomacy.

Praising the idea of monitoring compliance as a “noble,” Lavrov added: “We told our European friends that the EU must come to the UN Security Council and say: the UN Security Council announced the arms embargo, we – the European Union – want to make another special operation to monitor compliance with the embargo … so we ask the Security Council to support our approach.”

He added: "The fact that the EU is trying to avoid submitting its ideas to the UN Security Council raises questions about the reasons for this position."

On March 31 EU foreign ministers approved the launch of a new military mission, Operation IRINI, to monitor the UN arms embargo on Libya.

The new mission will operate in the air, sea, and with satellites to ensure that all countries respect the ban on providing arms for the parties involved in the Libyan conflict.

The EU forces will also watch for illegal oil exports, prevent human trafficking, and contribute to the training of the local coast guard and navy, as a complementary task.

The new mission has already faced several criticisms.

- Russia urges appointment of new UN envoy for Libya

Lavrov also expressed disappointment that the Libyan peace process is stalling and hostilities have resumed. He stressed that one reason this happened is because Ghassan Salamé resigned as the UN envoy to Libya and urged the UN secretary-general to appoint a replacement as soon as possible, stressing that the new envoy should be from an African country, situated in the same region as Libya.

Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: warlord Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which enjoys the UN and international recognition.

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.

International efforts to enforce a cease-fire have proven unsuccessful in recent months due to persistent violations by Haftar’s forces.