By Ashraf Abdul-Wahab.
Tripoli, 3 April 2013:
The UK’s Minister for International Security Strategy Andrew Murrison met today with the Chief of Staff . . .[restrict]of the Libyan Navy, Commodore Hassan Boushnak to discuss naval cooperation.
Murrison in Tripoli for the visit of HMS Kent, the first UK warship to dock in Tripoli harbour in 40 years. The Type 23 frigate is hosting a group of UK defence and security industry companies and organisations hoping to do business with Libya.
During the meeting, held on Tripoli naval base, Libyan navy staff and members of the British delegation discussed collaboration on training as well as technology and weaponry.
Discussions between Libya and the UK on naval cooperation have ben on-going for several months. In January, a UK naval delegation was in Tripoli looking in particular into providing naval training.
Libya is looking to a number of countries, including France and Italy, for help in developing the navy. A prime focus is to build up a force to patrol Libya’s coast and put an end to the enormous level of human trafficking across the Mediterranean. [/restrict]
