Turkey on Tuesday accused the European Union of “ rewarding the aggressor” after the 27-nation bloc slapped sanctions on three transport companies for violating the UN arms embargo on Libya, including the Turkish shipping firm which operates a vessel that was at the center of a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and France.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement dismissed the decision as “ of no value.” It insisted the ship was providing aid to Libya’s U.N.-recognised government based in the capital, Tripoli, and accused the EU of ignoring countries and companies sending arms to the rival Libyan National Army, led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter, which controls the east.
“ With this attitude, the EU insists on maintaining a double-standard attitude ... Which rewards the aggressor, instead of taking an attitude in favour of international legitimacy,” the ministry said.
The statement also said it is “ extremely unfortunate” that the decision came as efforts are underway to reduce tensions between Greece and Turkey over energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
At talks in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers imposed sanctions on the Avrasya Shipping company, which is headquartered in Turkey, saying it was “ found to have violated the arms embargo in Libya.”