http://www.theolympian.com/news/nation-world/article79228717.html
MAY 23, 2016 2:29 AM
Libya gives green light for EU coast guard training
-Libya has given the European Union permission to begin training its coast guard, as increasing numbers of migrants leave the country bound for Italy.
Associated Press
Libya has given the European Union permission to begin training its coast guard, as increasing numbers of migrants leave the country bound for Italy.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini said Monday that the training effort "will be very important to control Libya's territorial waters, together with our Libyan partners, as well as to control the migrant influx."
Mogherini's remarks came as she arrived in Brussels for talks with EU foreign ministers on how to move ahead with the training, among other issues, including the fight against the Islamic State group.
The EU also has a naval operation in the Mediterranean and the Europeans have been waiting for approval from Libya's government to allow operations within the country's territorial waters to combat migrant smugglers.
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http://www.wsj.com/articles/libya-requests-eu-help-training-security-services-1463940918
Libya Requests EU Help Training Security Services
EU foreign ministers meeting Monday are expected to give a green light to the request
By VALENTINA POP
BRUSSELS—Libyan Prime Minister Faiez Serraj requested the help of the European Union in training the country’s security services, naval forces and coast guard, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said Sunday.
“This is an important development that I will discuss with ministers at tomorrow’s meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council with a view to making this operational as soon as possible,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said after receiving the written request.
EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday are likely to give a green light to the request, after diplomats were recently preparing the extension of the bloc’s naval mission to also train the new national government’s security forces.
The bloc’s naval mission—dubbed Sophia—was set up to fight human smuggling by gathering intelligence, arresting smugglers and destroying the boats after rescuing the migrants.
EU governments initially hoped the national unity government in Tripoli would grant permission to the naval mission to enter Libyan waters, but over the past few weeks it became clear that Mr. Serraj “doesn’t want any boots or any boats on the ground,” according to one senior diplomat familiar with the talks. Training of naval and coast guard staff is likely to happen in international waters and commanders will be brought for training in EU countries, according to diplomats in Brussels.
Last week during international talks in Vienna, Mr. Serraj said Libya only wants foreign assistance in training and equipping its new security forces to fight Islamic State, not a foreign military intervention.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as top diplomats from more than 20 countries, including Russia, China and other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council agreed last week to arm Mr. Serraj’s security forces to fight Islamic State, despite a five-years arms embargo on Libya.
Islamic State controls the Mediterranean port of Sirte and in recent weeks has gained territory in government-held areas. In addition, Mr. Serraj’s government is being challenged by a rival government in the east of the country, where the country’s parliament is seated. Ongoing Western diplomatic efforts are aimed at bridging the gap between the two governments and uniting their efforts in fighting Islamic State and clamping down on migrant smuggling.
Italy in recent weeks has surpassed Greece in the number of migrant arrivals, as the Libya-Italy route is being increasingly used by human smugglers following the closing of the Turkey-Greece route.
Received on Mon May 23 2016 - 06:40:41 EDT