EU to revamp anti-smuggler mission for UN Libya arms embargo

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries have agreed to “refocus” mission of bloc’s anti-migrant smuggler naval operation in Mediterranean Sea so that it concentrates on upholding U.N. arms embargo against Libya, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday.

After chairing talks between EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Borrell said that bloc will also examine ways to help monitor a cease-fire

He told reporters that EU ambassors and experts have been tasked with presenting “concrete proposals on how to implement this cease-fire and enforcing U.N. arms embargo, by time ministers next meet in Brussels on Feb. 17.

“In meantime, we have to pass from truce to a real cease-fire,” Borrell said. “We are in a truce, which is unstable. A truce can be violated several times a day. Without a cease-fire it’s going to be difficult to imagine any kind of strong engment of European Union.”

Libya has sunk deeper into chaos since its long-time dictator, Moammar Ghafi was ousted and killed in 2011. It is w divided into rival ministrations, each backed by different nations: U.N.-recognized government based in Tripoli, heed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, and one based in country's east, supported by Gen. Khalifa Hifter.

EU has deployed a naval mission, Operation Sophia, into Mediterranean to monitor U.N. arms embargo on Libya as well as combat migrant smuggling from country, but Italy believes its presence only encours migrants to set out for its shores from rrn Africa.

Last year, government in Rome blocked deployment of any ships to mission, and it currently functions almost exclusively using aircraft and pilot-less drones. Borrell said ministers agreed to “refocus mandate” of Operation Sophia on arms embargo.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Sophia could be used only if it is “dismantled and reassembled in a completely different way.”

“It would be a mission for monitoring embargo, and thing else,” he said.

Under international law, ships in vicinity of any distress call at sea are obliged to rescue people.