Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, along with counterparts from Italy and Malta and EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, was denied entry into eastern Libya on alleged entry violations, after the delegation first visited Tripoli in the country’s west.
The eastern Libyan administration, led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, declared the officials “persona non-grata,” claiming they entered “illegally” and violated Libyan diplomatic norms and sovereignty.
The ministers had intended to discuss migration cooperation amid ongoing EU efforts to curb smuggling operations from Libya.
Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hadzidakis told state broadcaster ERT that while the meeting in Tripoli with the internationally recognised government went ahead, the refusal in Benghazi appeared linked to the delegation’s failure to first coordinate with the east-based authorities.
“I don’t think that was a constructive move,” Hadzidakis said, noting the EU’s efforts to address complex migration issues.
Libya remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, with General Khalifa Haftar wielding military power in the east.
Visitors are typically required to coordinate with both governments, though it remains unclear whether such coordination occurred in this case.
Source: ABC.
