Training of the Libyan Coast Guard begins
(B2) Sailors of EUNAVFOR MED Sophia began, this Thursday (27 October), the training of the Libyan Coast Guard and the Libyan Navy, announces the HQ of the operation in Rome.
Two vessels dedicated to training
The training will take place on two ships which have been specially dedicated to this function: the italian landing ship St. George (L 9892) and Dutch Zs Ms Rotterdam (which has integrated Operation Sophia since mid-October with this specific task until mid-December normally). It will take place in high sea ". But the Europeans do not prefer to detail how the Libyan trainees will join the ships, for " security reason (1).
Training for 80 trainees
The training will involve 78 trainees who have been selected — and "screenedbeforehand. They will be embarked with their mentors. The initial training program consists of various modules - specifies the HQ of the operation, going from basic marine skills to more advanced specialist skills », without forgetting a notion « substantial » training on human rights and international law.
Some ignition delays
The start of this new activity was not without difficulties and took some delays on the projected schedule. The question of the selection of Libyans to be trained as their subsequent control by the Libyan authority, once trained, posing a problem in particular. The addition of two new tasks had been decided by the Political and Security Committee (COPS) in May, endorsed by the ministers on 20 June. But it took several more weeks of discussions, at the level of ambassadors in general or experts in external relations of the 28 (read: New tasks for EUNAVFOR Med Sophia. Not without difficulty), to reach an agreement on the training framework.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
(1) It could be with Libyan means but also light European means dispatched to Libya.
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