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Reuters
Libya has suffered political and security chaos since the 2011 uprising
The European Union imposed sanctions on three companies, including one Turkish and one Jordanian, for “violating the arms embargo” imposed by the United Nations on Libya, prompting an angry response from Ankara.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said: “The inclusion of the European Union of one of our shipping companies in the sanctions list has no value from our perspective.”
The ministry called on the European Union to abandon its “biased stance,” according to the Anatolia news agency.
The European Union’s foreign ministers signed the measures at a regular meeting in Brussels on Monday.
The measures freeze corporate assets within the European Union, isolate them from the bloc’s financial markets and prevent them from dealing with any of them.
The European Union has a naval mission operating off Libya, whose mission is to monitor the embargo and collect intelligence on the offenders.
The European Union said in a statement: “These new lists show the European Union’s strategic use of the sanctions regime and its ability to respond to events on the ground to support the political process and deter past and current perpetrators from further violations “.
Libya has seen violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled the late leader Muammar Gaddafi.
However, there were signs of progress, as representatives from both sides of the Libyan conflict met for peace talks in Morocco and abruptly declared a ceasefire.
“After several months I see reasons for cautious optimism. There is a positive momentum and there is a ceasefire and we need to take advantage of it,” said Josep Borrell, the chief diplomat of the European Union, upon his arrival at the foreign minister’s talks.
‘Bad decision’
The attack on a Turkish company threatens to inflame already tense relations between Ankara and the European Union in the wake of the recent escalation in the eastern Mediterranean over oil and gas exploration.
The European Union says the Eurasia Shipping Company is operating a ship that “violated the arms embargo by transporting military equipment to Libya in May and June 2020.”
Turkey criticized the decision in a statement from the Foreign Ministry late Monday.
“At a time when efforts are being made to reduce tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, making such a wrong decision is extremely regrettable,” the statement said, according to Agence France-Presse.
He also accused the European Union naval mission in Libyan waters of “ignoring” the supplies reaching forces loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar, “especially those sent by the Emirates.”
The Turkish statement accused the European Union mission of “rewarding Haftar and punishing the Libyan government recognized by the United Nations.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry statement added: “If the European Union wants security and stability in the region, it must abandon its biased stance and work in consultation and cooperation with Turkey.”
The Tripoli Government of National Accord has the support of Turkey and Qatar, while Haftar’s forces are supported by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
