The Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini, together with the European Ambassador to Libya, José Antonio Sabadell, paid a visit to Tripoli for official meetings from 16 to 18 November. Agostini, Operation Commander of Irini, met Fayez Al-Sarraj, the Libyan Prime Minister of GNA (Government of National Accord), the Libyan Defense Minister Salahedin Al Namroush, the Libyan Minister of Interior, Fathi Bashagha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Syala, and the Libyan Special Committee (LSC – appointed by the Libyan MoD specifically to deal with Operation Irini aspects).

During the meetings, Admiral Agostini presented the mandate, role and legal framework of Operation Irini, underlining its impartiality towards the warring parties in Libya through the evidence of the results achieved to date.

Admiral Agostini also encouraged the Libyan counterparts to resume the training activity in support of the Libyan Coast guard and Navy, in order to further enhance its capabilities, necessary to ensure full ownership of security in the maritime area of responsibility.

The visit to Tripoli was overall positive and the contacts with the GNA leadership and the LSC were established in a frank and open atmosphere.

Operation Irini (named after the Greek goddess for “peace”) was planned in a very short timeframe and launched on 31 March 2020, following a decision by the Council of the European Union. The main task is the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya under the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The Operation also has secondary tasks including monitoring illegal oil trafficking from Libya, contributing to countering human trafficking and smuggling activities (through air monitoring) and contributing to the training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy.

Read more

Press release

EUNAVFOR MED IRINI – website and Facebook page