By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 18 December 2017:
Both the Presidency Council’s government and the Beida-based interim government have now condemned statements by the new Czech Prime Minister that he was considering sending troops to protect Libya’s southern borders.
Andrej Babis had said it was his country’s intention to send a military unit in an effort to prevent illegal migration.
“We condemn this statement which provoked the feelings of Libyan and affirm that our country is free and sovereign, and that it will extend its control over its territory through its army and security services,” a statement by the Beida foreign ministry said.
“We advise the Czech prime minister to work with his government’s mandate to fund development projects in the source countries with the rest of the EU to prevent the flow of migrants,” it added
The Beida foreign ministry also reminded that Czech government that the EU was considering sanctioning it for not taking in enough refugees. This refusal to take those in need would not come at the expense of Libya, it added.
On Saturday, the Presidency Council’s foreign ministry insisted that while it welcomed the international community’s help, this had to be limited to logistical and intelligence assistance and not military.
