Turkey to send 4 frigates, one submarine to NATO mission to enforce Libya embargo

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey will send four frigates, a submarine and an auxiliary warship to NATO mission that will enforce the arms embargo off Libya, NATO officials said on March 23.

Turkey will make the largest contribution to the NATO mission with a confirmed fleet of 16 warships and submarines.

NATO agreed on Tuesday to enforce the arms embargo and completed plans to enforce a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone if needed.

Under the NATO plan, Italy will provide the command and control ship of the naval mission. Canada, Spain, Britain, Greece, Italy and United States will contribute to the mission with one ship each. Three submarines will be sent by Turkey, Spain and Italy. Turkey and Italy will also allocate two auxiliary ships.

On no-fly zone, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said negotiations were under way among NATO member states with a positive spirit, Anatolia News Agency reported.

All 28 NATO members must give their approval to NATO's military plans for implementation of UN Security Council resolution on no-fly zone over Libya, Lungescu said.