Italian navy help repair Libyan coastguard ships as part of migrant agreement

Record ID: 905925

  • Title: Italian navy help repair Libyan coastguard ships as part of migrant agreement
  • Date: 10th August 2017
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (AUGUST 10, 2017) (REUTERS) ITALIAN NAVAL SHIP IN DOCK MORE OF ITALIAN NAVAL SHIP IN DOCK / ITALIAN NAVY FLAG FLYING ON NAVAL SHIP CLOSE OF ITALIAN NAVY FLAG FLYING VARIOUS OF LIBYAN FLAG FLYING ON ITALIAN NAVAL SHIP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN COAST GUARD SPOKESPERSON, EYAB QASSEM, SAYING: "This ship, Tremiti, is here carrying out Italy's support to Libya. Part of the agreement is maintenance on some Libyan ships, after a visit by an expert who catalogued most of the ship's needs. This ship (Tremiti) arrived carrying spare parts which will be fitted and tested, and we hope that we see the fruits of this labour on the ship within the coming week, and start to use some of these parts." VARIOUS OF ITALIAN CREW ON BOARD MAN WORKING ON ROPE ON SHIP VARIOUS OF ITALIAN CREW WORKING ON SHIP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN COAST GUARD SPOKESPERSON, EYAB QASSEM, SAYING: "Through this cooperation, we hope to begin actively using this ship to enforce sovereignty on Libya's waters, on fishing, protection of our oil wealth, as well as combating smuggling, drug trafficking, pollution and monitoring of all marine transportation. All of this is not possible without this (Libyan) ship. LIBYAN FLAG FLYING ITALIAN NAVY FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2017 17:58
  • Keywords: Europe migrant crisis Libya Italy Italian Naval Mission coastguard
  • Location: TRIPOLI, LIBYA
  • City: TRIPOLI, LIBYA
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016TKR1HJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An Italian Navy vessel on Thursday (August 10) began maintenance work on Libyan coast guard ships as part of a deal between the two countries which aims at curbing the flow of migrants from the North African country.
    Italy is providing logistical, technical and operational support for Libyan naval vessels as the European Union gave 46 million euros ($54 million) to Italy two weeks ago to help it protect Libya's northern and southern borders, part of the bloc's efforts to stem arrival of African migrants across the Mediterranean in the turmoil following the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.
    The Italian ship arrived at Libyan shores on Tuesday (August 8) and is expected to carry out its operations over the next week.
    Libyan Coast Guard Spokesperson Eyab Qassem said he hoped the assistance could aid Libya in curbing migration and also putting an end to illegal smuggling and drug trafficking.
    Italy also began a limited naval mission last week to help Libya's coast guard curb migrant flows by sending the offshore patrol ship Comandante Borsini into Libyan waters and heading for Tripoli within minutes of a vote in Italy's parliament authorising the deployment.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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