The illegal search of a private Turkish-flagged ship by a German frigate is “against the international law,” says Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
“IT’S NOT BUILT ON SOLID BASES”
Over the EU’s Operation Irını in Libya, the minister said: “Irini Operation from the very beginning is a problematic operation. It is not built on solid bases in terms of international law. That is number one, and two, practices on the ground are also problematic.”
Turkey has strongly condemned the illegal search of the Turkish-flagged MV Roseline A by an EU naval mission on Sunday. The German frigate responsible for the unlawful action was part of Operation Irini, a European mission launched earlier this year to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the vessel was only carrying paint, paint materials, and humanitarian aid to Libya’s port of Misrata, and did not violate the UN embargo. The ministry also summoned envoys of the EU, Italy, and Germany on Monday.
A diplomatic note given to the envoys said “the incident is against international law and that our rights to compensation are reserved,” according to the ministry.
