Libya : World powers ready to arm Libyan government
on 2016/5/17 16:57:13
Libya

Click to see original Image in a new windowThe United States and other world powers have voiced readiness to supply weapons to Libya's internationally-recognized government to counter militants and rivals.

The US, four other permanent UN Security Council members and more than 15 other nations participating at the Libya talks in Vienna said in a statement on Monday that they are seeking exemptions from a United Nations arms embargo imposed on Libya to help strife-torn country fight Takfiri militants.

“The Government of National Accord has voiced its intention to submit appropriate arms embargo exemption requests to the UN Libya Sanctions Committee to procure necessary lethal arms and materiel to counter UN-designated terrorist groups and to combat Daesh throughout the country,” said the statement.

The powers said they would be ready to “fully support” Libya’s call for receiving training and equipment; however, they reiterated that the UN arms embargo should continue to be reinforced in order to keep lethal arms away from extremists and rival militias vying for power.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was among top officials in Vienna to declare support for Libya’s internationally-recognized government. The forum said it also aims to find a way for the fledgling administration to end its rivalry with a self-declared government in the east of Libya.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, however, cast some doubts on the aims of initiative in Vienna, saying the international community has yet to reach a conclusion that the new government would be able to establish security and stability in Libya.

“The key question is whether Libya remains a place where terrorism, criminal human smuggling and instability continues to expand, or if we are able, together with the government of national unity to recover stability … That, at present, is an open question,” said Steinmeier.

Libya was turned into a major battleground for rival militants when its long-time dictator Moammar Gaddafi was toppled through backing of western powers some five years ago. The country has now two administrations, one which is recognized by world powers resides in the city of Tobruk and the other rules areas from the capital Tripoli.

The Arab country, which is separated from Europe only through a relatively small stretch of the Mediterranean Sea, has also seen some high-profile attacks by Daesh, a major terror organization which is mainly based in Iraq and Syria.

Previous article - Next article Printer Friendly Page Send this Story to a Friend Create a PDF from the article


Other articles
2023/7/22 15:36:35 - Uncertainty looms as negotiations on the US-Kenya trade agreement proceeds without a timetable
2023/7/22 13:48:23 - 40 More Countries Want to Join BRICS, Says South Africa
2023/7/18 13:25:04 - South Africa’s Putin problem just got a lot more messy
2023/7/18 13:17:58 - Too Much Noise Over Russia’s Influence In Africa – OpEd
2023/7/18 11:15:08 - Lagos now most expensive state in Nigeria
2023/7/18 10:43:40 - Nigeria Customs Intercepts Arms, Ammunition From US
2023/7/17 16:07:56 - Minister Eli Cohen: Nairobi visit has regional and strategic importance
2023/7/17 16:01:56 - Ruto Outlines Roadmap for Africa to Rival First World Countries
2023/7/17 15:47:30 - African heads of state arrive in Kenya for key meeting
2023/7/12 15:51:54 - Kenya, Iran sign five MoUs as Ruto rolls out red carpet for Raisi
2023/7/12 15:46:35 - Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Gupta Travels to Kenya and Rwanda
2023/7/2 14:57:52 - We Will Protect Water Catchments
2023/7/2 14:53:49 - Kenya records slight improvement in global peace ranking
2023/7/2 13:33:37 - South Sudan, South Africa forge joint efforts for peace in Sudan
2023/7/2 12:08:02 - Tinubu Ready To Assume Leadership Role In Africa
2023/7/2 10:50:34 - CDP ranks Nigeria, others low in zero-emission race
2023/6/19 15:30:00 - South Africa's Ramaphosa tells Putin Ukraine war must end
2023/6/17 15:30:20 - World Bank approves Sh45bn for Kenya Urban Programme
2023/6/17 15:25:47 - Sudan's military govt rejects Kenyan President Ruto as chief peace negotiatorThe Sudanese military government of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has rejected Kenyan President William Ruto's leadership of the "Troika on Sudan."
2023/6/17 15:21:15 - Kenya Sells Record 2.2m Tonnes of Carbon Credits to Saudi Firms

The comments are owned by the author. We aren't responsible for their content.