Arms embargo exemptions being considered for new Libyan government

Record ID: 103402

  • Title: Arms embargo exemptions being considered for new Libyan government
  • Date: 16th May 2016
  • Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 16, 2016) (REUTERS) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, PAOLO GENTILONI, U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, PRIME MINISTER OF THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD (GNA), FAYEZ SERAJ, WALKING UP TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRIME MINISTER OF THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD (GNA), FAYEZ SERAJ, SAYING: "We asked for the lifting of the arms embargo, in order to support the military institutions and the presidency council to fight Daesh, we asked for support and preparation of the presidency guard which we established days ago. This presidency guard has a clear role, aimed at protecting the government and public spaces, and it is not to replace the military or the police. We also agreed to support the coast guard to help limit illegal immigration." SERAJ, KERRY AND GENTILONI STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "The international community will support the presidency council as it seeks exemption from the U.N. arms embargo to acquire those weapons and bullets needed to fight Daesh and other terrorist groups." SERAJ, KERRY AND GENTILONI STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "The arms embargo does allow for the Government of National Accord (GNA) to request weapons if it needs them specifically to secure the country and to combat Daesh. So, that is the consideration, and we will, we will measure whatever requests there are for their legitimate arms requests, with our call to all states to improve the enforcement of the arms embargo itself in order to prevent arms transfers from taking place to people outside the GNA's authority, so it's a delicate balance." SERAJ, KERRY AND GENTILONI STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, PAOLO GENTILONI, SAYING: "So, stabilisation is the key, with stabilisation we can fight terrorism, we can assure development to a country with rich potentialities, but with a strong humanitarian crisis now we can tackle the migration issue, we can develop the resources of Libya." SERAJ, KERRY AND GENTILONI LEAVING AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2016 18:07
  • Keywords: Libya GNA Libya unity government US Secretary of State John Kerry Fayez Seraj Paolo Gentiloni
  • Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • Country: Austria
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014I25D8N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:World powers including the United States are ready to consider demands from Libya's new unity government for exemptions from a United Nations arms embargo to help establish its authority over the country.
    The West is counting on the U.N.-backed unity government to tackle Islamic State militants in Libya and prevent new flows of migrants heading north across the Mediterranean, though the new government's leaders are still trying to establish themselves in Tripoli.
    Speaking after a ministerial meeting of about two dozen ministers in Vienna on Monday (May 16), Fayez Seraj, the head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), said that with his administration now taking shape, he would provide a list of weapons to relevant authorities.
    "We asked for the lifting of the arms embargo, in order to support the military institutions and the presidency council to fight Daesh, we asked for the support and preparation of the presidency guard which we established days ago. This presidency guard has a clear role, aimed at protecting the government and public spaces, and it is not to replace the military or the police," Seraj told reporters, referring to the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
    International powers have repeatedly said they would support Libyan efforts once a unity government was in place and had made its demands clear.
    The Libyan government is allowed to import weapons and related material with the approval of a United Nations Security Council committee overseeing the embargo imposed in 2011.
    Major powers are banking on the GNA, which sailed into Tripoli on March 30, to end the bloody chaos that Libyans have endured since Muammar Gaddafi's fall five years ago.
    Seraj's government is supposed to replace two rival administrations - one based in Tripoli, the other in the eastern city of Tobruk - that have been battling each other for more than a year.
    Italian Foreign Minister, Paolo Gentiloni said stabilisation was key.
    Western powers have ruled out a military intervention, although the United States has already conducted air strikes against Islamic State militants in Libya.
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