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Did the Turkish freighter “Roseline A” illegally load arms or other goods en route to Libya? Ankara denies this. But an internal EU document raises doubts.
The soldiers of the German Bundeswehr controlled the Turkish freighter “Roseline A” until the intervention of Ankara.
Operation Irini
Turkey has assessed the operation as illegal and accuses Germany and the EU of unauthorized use of force (Image: archive photo: the crew in front of the “Hamburg” in Port Rashid, Dubai, 2013).
REUTERS
However, an internal EU document shows that a special report on Turkish cargo has already been drawn up. According to information provided by EU circles, it was based on intelligence findings and is aimed at UN arms embargo experts.
REUTERS
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As part of the EU Irini operation, a Turkish freighter destined for Libya was stopped.
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The suspicion of German soldiers: illegal arms smuggling.
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After an intervention in Ankara, the search for “Roseline A” was canceled.
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For Turkey, the use is illegal. Germany and the EU used unauthorized force.
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A secret EU document suggests that suspicion of illegal deliveries is justified.
The container ship from Turkey, controlled by German soldiers in the Mediterranean, has long been suspected of being used for illegal arms deliveries to the Libyan civil war country.
As can be seen from a secret EU document available to the German News Agency, a special report on the cargo has even been written. According to information provided by EU circles, it was based on intelligence findings and is aimed at UN arms embargo experts.
The inspection of the Turkish ship by the German armed forces took place on Sunday as part of the EU operation Irini and had aroused severe criticism from the Ankara government. Turkey assessed the operation as illegal and accuses Germany and the EU of unauthorized use of force.
Not clear to date
On the other hand, the mission command said there were sufficient reasons to believe that the controlled ship could violate the UN arms embargo against Libya. The German soldiers proceeded in a highly professional manner and inspected the ship according to standard and internationally agreed NATO procedures.
It is not yet clear whether the freighter “Roseline A” actually had weapons or other prohibited goods on board. The German armed forces had to cancel the search of the ship early on Sunday because Turkey, as a flag state, officially protested the operation.
“Why is Ankara opposed to verification?”
A search of ships against the resistance of the crew and the flag State is currently not possible during the UE Irini operation. This is also due to the fact that the special forces needed for such dangerous missions are not yet available.
According to the Turkish foreign ministry, the ship had loaded paint and relief supplies. However, this is questioned. “The Turkish government has to answer the question of why it is resisting an inspection of the freighter if it is allegedly not used for smuggling drones and other military equipment,” said DPA MP Andrej Hunko (left). The rumble of Ankara only allows us to conclude that something should be hidden there.
Lack of support and crown
At the same time, the left group’s European political spokesperson confirmed its fundamental rejection of the EU military operation. According to Hunko, this makes it vulnerable because it unilaterally controls arms smuggling in favor of the Tripoli government.
The secret document available to the Personal Data Protection Authority is the first half-yearly report on the EU operation. It also points out that participating EU Member States did not support the operation to the extent foreseen from April to the end of September. The number of ships available has always been below the minimum requirements. In addition, the Italian flagship “ITS Margottini” had to be put out of service earlier than expected on September 26, after around 80 crown cases on board.
The Irini operation was decided at the end of March. The mission’s objectives are to stabilize Libya, a civil war country in North Africa, and to support the United Nations-led political peace process. In addition to arms smuggling, the mission also aims to prevent oil and fuel smuggling. Germany participates with the frigate “Hamburg”. If you want to know more about the Irini operation: You can find more information here.
(SDA / gux)
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