The Government of National Accord (GNA) violated the resolution of the arms embargo on Libya when its forces received Turkish weapon shipments at Tripoli port, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR), said Wednesday.
“Sending arms to a government that is not recognized by the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) is a blatant violation of Libyan sovereignty and a bias towards an outlawed group,” added the committee. The HoR is known for its support for the LNA.
The committee called on the international community to tighten controls over sea ports that may be used to smuggle arms, which have a negative impact on the region.
A shipment of 40 Turkish armored vehicles and other arms reached Tripoli Port Saturday, coming from Samsun Port in Turkey.
Claims surfaced about the coalition forces loyal to the GNA received the shipment, carrying dozens of Turkish-made BMC Kirpi armored vehicles.
However, neither the GNA nor Turkish officials have made any comment regarding the shipment.
Previously, several shipments of weapons and ammunition arrived from Turkey, violating the UN resolution banning the sale and transfer of arms to Libya. The LNA and the Interim Government in eastern Libya strongly condemned the shipments every time, but the GNA’s reaction has been silent or lenient
For his part, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya Ghassan Salame has repeatedly urged respect for the embargo, reiterating that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis.
