Diplomats: EU is set to announce sanction on 3 companies about Libya arms supplies

Diplomats informed AFP with the anonymity that the European Union is preparing to declare sanctions on Monday on three companies from Turkey, Jordan and Kazakhstan which are involved in a case of violating a UN arms embargo on Libya. The EU possesses a marine mission operating in waters next to Libya, its mission is to survey the embargo and collect information on violators.

In fact, Turkey is one of the highest supporters of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which has been attacked by the strongman, Khalifa Haftar, who manages a competitive administration in the east. One of two diplomats who spoke to AFP reported: The sanctions are modest but significant. It’s a signal.

Moreover, the targeting of a Turkish company threat to inflame tense ties between Ankara and the EU after a recent flare-up in the eastern Mediterranean about oil and gas reserves.

It’s expected that the sanctions, which will lead to putting companies in the blacklist and their assets in the EU will be frozen, will be approved by EU foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday in Brussels.

Otherwise, France that is EU member has been attacked in the past of providing weapons to Haftar, who also has the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Actually, French missiles were found at a base used by the forces of Haftar last year, despite the French defense ministry reported that they were decommissioned weapons which were being temporarily stocked in a warehouse ahead of their destruction.

Indeed, the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli is supported by Turkey and Qatar, and the officials of the UN have long alerted that deliveries of foreign-made weapons to the country are undermining peace efforts there.