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DPA
New York/Geneva
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday warned there would be consequences for states breaching the United Nations arms embargo in Libya, as political talks about the conflict-torn country’s future began.
Maas said especially those nations that had vowed to uphold the embargo at the January 19 Berlin summit on Libya must be held accountable for violations.
“Breaches of the weapons embargo cannot remain without consequences,” Maas told reporters in New York, where he is set to participate in a UN Security Council meeting on Libya later on Wednesday.
The German minister said there would be discussions in the European Union over the repercussions for those found responsible for continuing violations.
Maas chaired the January 19 Berlin conference alongside the UN special representative for Libya, Ghassan Salame. International leaders agreed on a Libyan peace process with military, political and economic tracks and to end outside interference and military support for the fighting factions.
Arms deliveries to the North African country have so far continued, a situation that UN chief Antonio Guterres recently called a “scandal.” Guterres pointed to reports of equipment being delivered from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and through Egypt, as well as the involvement of Turkish troops, mercenaries from Sudan and elements of a Russian private company operating in the war-torn nation.
Maas said a new mission to monitor the failing embargo that EU foreign ministers last week resolved to set up would increase the pressure on violators.
“I’m sure there will be ramifications for those who continue to breach the arms embargo today,” he said.
New York/Geneva
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday warned there would be consequences for states breaching the United Nations arms embargo in Libya, as political talks about the conflict-torn country’s future began.
Maas said especially those nations that had vowed to uphold the embargo at the January 19 Berlin summit on Libya must be held accountable for violations.
“Breaches of the weapons embargo cannot remain without consequences,” Maas told reporters in New York, where he is set to participate in a UN Security Council meeting on Libya later on Wednesday.
The German minister said there would be discussions in the European Union over the repercussions for those found responsible for continuing violations.
Maas chaired the January 19 Berlin conference alongside the UN special representative for Libya, Ghassan Salame. International leaders agreed on a Libyan peace process with military, political and economic tracks and to end outside interference and military support for the fighting factions.
Arms deliveries to the North African country have so far continued, a situation that UN chief Antonio Guterres recently called a “scandal.” Guterres pointed to reports of equipment being delivered from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and through Egypt, as well as the involvement of Turkish troops, mercenaries from Sudan and elements of a Russian private company operating in the war-torn nation.
Maas said a new mission to monitor the failing embargo that EU foreign ministers last week resolved to set up would increase the pressure on violators.
“I’m sure there will be ramifications for those who continue to breach the arms embargo today,” he said.
