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Steinmeier notes Russia’s constructive role in UNSC vote on resolution on Libya

Earlier, UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing Member States, acting nationally or through regional organizations, to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier EPA/BERND VON JUTRCZENKA

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

© EPA/BERND VON JUTRCZENKA

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BERLIN, June 15. /TASS/. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has noted the constructive position of Russia during the UN Security Council’s voting on the resolution, which allows inspecting ships off the Libyan coast to control compliance with the arms embargo on the country.

"The constructive actions of Russia show that it meets our common interests to effectively counter the threat of the Islamic State (terrorist group outlawed in Russia) in Iraq, Syria and Libya," Steinmeier said in Berlin on Wednesday.

"I welcome the fact that the UN Security Council has proven its ability to act and took important decisions that can promote easing tensions in the conflict in Libya," the German minister said.

According to him, "Real progress has been made in recent weeks." "The national accord government is becoming more and more competent. At the same time a number of areas controlled by IS have been liberated and the terrorists were attacked in Sirte, which is considered their main stronghold," Steinmeier said.

On Tuesday evening, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing Member States, acting nationally or through regional organizations, to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya they believe are carrying illicit weapons, the UN reported. Condemning the flow of arms and related materiel into the North African country, including to terrorist groups, the 15-member body said it made the decision to authorize such inspections "in these exceptional and specific circumstances" for a period of 12 months from today (June 14), and with Member States engaging in "appropriate consultations" with Libya's Government of National Accord.

The resolution extends the mandate of the EU anti-migrant smuggling operation in the Mediterranean Sea - known as ‘EUNAVFOR Med’ or ‘Operation Sophia’, aimed at boarding and seizing on the high seas vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling and trafficking from Libya.

The Council also said that the inspections would be authorized "provided that those Member States make good-faith efforts to first obtain the consent of the vessel's flag State prior to any inspections," and called upon all flag States of the vessels to cooperate with such inspections.

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