Germany: Maas and Austrian FM comment on EU mission to block entry of arms into Libya

M/S Foreign Ministers of Austria and Germany, Alexander Schallenberg and Heiko Maas entering press conference, Berlin
C/U Inscription reading Foreign Office
SOT, Heiko Maas, FM of Germany (German): "After intensive debates we agreed in principle that the EU will commit to the weapons embargo in Libya, and that is exceptionally important and good decision. The operation Sofia will therefore be ended in its current shape. There will be a new mission to monitor the arms embargo. This mission will encompass a maritime part in the Eastern Mediterranean - this is the place where the weapons supplies routes are."
M/S Maas and Schallenberg
SOT, Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Minister of Austria (German): "The most efficient way of controlling the arms embargo is to be present in the ports and airports. We could imagine a EU border monitoring mission in Libya - this is still a vision for the future, however. We would need a UN mandate or a permission of the Libyans as well as a discussion on the European level. But I did also announce that Austria would be ready to commit to such a border mission in Libya."
W/S Maas and Schallenberg
SOT, Maas (German): We don’t want Iran to possess nuclear weapons, we also want the Iran to play a different role in the region than the role it is playing currently, for instance in Yemen, in Syria or Iraq. We also want to talk about the ballistic missile programme with Iran - these are things that the Americans and Europeans agree between each other. The approaches are different, but we agree on the objectives in principle. And I can only welcome that my colleague will travel to Tehran to make their contribution to the dialogue with Iran.
M/S Maas and Schallenberg
SOT, Schallenberg (German): Of course In will travel there with a European message and I had close consultations with all the representatives including the German Foreign Minister.
M/S Maas and Schallenberg leaving
SCRIPT
A new EU maritime mission will control the arms embargo in Libya, replacing the current ‘Sofia’ mission, said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin on Wednesday.
Speaking at a news conference with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg, Maas explained “This mission will encompass a maritime part in the Eastern Mediterranean - this is the place where the weapons supplies routes are.”
Schallenberg proposed to “be present in the ports and airports” for an effective monitoring and signalled Austria’s readiness to participate in such a mission.
Commenting on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, Maas welcomed Schallenberg’s upcoming trip to Tehran, highlighting that the West stands united regarding the objectives of the dialogue with Iran. “e don’t want Iran to possess nuclear weapons, we also want the Iran to play a different role in the region than the role it is playing currently, for instance in Yemen, in Syria or Iraq. We also want to talk about the ballistic missile programme with Iran - these are things that the Americans and Europeans agree between each other. The approaches are different, but we agree on the objectives.”
Schallenberg concluded his statement assuring that he will deliver a “European message” in Tehran.