Libya: High Representative Josep Borrell spoke with Foreign Minister Taha Sialla

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell held a phone conversation with the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Taha Sialla on Wednesday, to discuss the latest developments in Libya. He conveyed the message of EU’s support and readiness to intervene with humanitarian assistance in view of the challenging circumstances around the coronavirus crisis.

High Representative also informed his Libyan partner about the launch of the new Operation IRINI to monitor the UN arms embargo. This EU operation will support the Berlin process and will work within the framework of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. It will deploy naval and aerial assets and make use of satellite capabilities to provide the broadest possible coverage of the situation. The Operation aims at putting an end to illegal delivery of weapons and military equipment to Libya which continues to fuel the conflict there.

Josep Borrell reiterated the European Union’s call to immediately stop the fighting and engage in reaching a political solution to the crisis in Libya. He also stressed that the EU remains fully committed to support the implementation of the Berlin Process and the UN-led mediation efforts to help Libya.