EU MEETING:EU FOREIGN ministers toughened sanctions against Libya amid sharp political divisions over allied air strikes against the Gadafy regime.
At their regular meeting in Brussels yesterday, the ministers extended a travel ban to 11 people in Col Gadafy’s entourage and applied an asset freeze to another nine commercial entities. The targets were not named.
Despite European efforts to present a united front, divisions lingered over the UN-backed military intervention and the extent of Nato involvement.
While British prime minister David Cameron said command over the allied force would transfer to Nato, France was resisting such a manoeuvre because of concern that it would alienate the Arab world.
“Let me explain how the coalition will work – it’s operating under US command with the intention that this will transfer to Nato,” Mr Cameron told parliament in Westminster.
This meant all allies who wanted to contribute to the mission would be able to do so. “Clearly the mission would benefit from that, and from using Nato’s tried and tested machinery in command and control.”
At the Brussels meeting, however, France stressed the need to maintain distance from Nato.
“The Arab League does not wish the operation to be entirely placed under Nato responsibility. It isn’t Nato which has taken the initiative up to now,” French foreign minister Alain Juppé told reporters. “It’s a coalition of countries leading the operation, so political control . . . is exercised by this coalition, in which Arab, North American and European countries are participating.”
He accepted Nato might play a role in planning and execution as the mission unfolded.
Although the Arab League said yesterday it remained committed to the effort to enforce the no-fly zone, Germany presented reported misgivings within the league as vindication for its decision not to participate.
“This does not mean that we are neutral,” said German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle. “This does not mean that we have any sympathy with the dictator Gadafy. It means that we see the risks, and we listen closely to what the Arab League yesterday said.”
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa told her he was misquoted.
The Brussels meeting focused on boosting humanitarian aid and isolating Col Gadafy, Ms Ashton said.
“We are looking at what more we can do in terms of economic sanctions, what more we can do for planning. The most obvious issue is humanitarian support.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore did not attend the meeting.
