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Libya has been riven with conflict since the overthrowing of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi (Credit: AP/Mohamed Ben Khalifa)
The UN-backed arms embargo in Libya has become a joke, the UN deputy special envoy for Libya, Stephanie Williams, said after foreign ministers and international representatives met to discuss the deterioration of a peace plan forged last month.
Despite the agreement to a 55-point road map to peace in Libya at a conference of world leaders in Berlin last month, both warring sides have continued to receive arms from their international backers, receiving arms and mercenary support.
"There are violations that are happening by land, sea, and air," she said. "And that all needs to be monitored and there needs to be accountability ultimately. Libya is awash with weaponry and now advanced weaponry and that is very dangerous for regional peace and security not to mention international peace and security."
The meeting was chaired by Germany's foreign Minister Heiiko Mass, who said, "it has been obvious in the last weeks that there have been many not insignificant breaches of the weapons embargo.
"There have been decidedly differing explanations offered up from Libya as to what the reasons for this are, but everybody agrees that the path we have taken, which is to separate the conflicting parties from their supporters is still the only path to a possible successful outcome in ending the civil war in Libya."
Prior to this meeting, the UN special envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, demanded external forces "take their hands off Libya" and stop "meddling" in the country's affairs. He also warned that giving hope to either side will only further challenge any political solution.
The UN-recognized government of national accord led by the prime minister, Fayez al-Serraj, based in Tripoli, receives the backing of Turkey, which has sent as many as 2,000 fighters from Syria.
While General Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the Libyan National Army whose power base is in the east of the country, has support from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Both France and Russia publicly support the UN's mediation efforts, but have made political decisions in favor of Haftar. He is also getting financial support from Saudi Arabia.
Last week the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for the enforcement of the arms embargo and a ceasefire, which has largely fallen on deaf ears.
On Monday, European foreign ministers are again meeting to discuss the idea of using navy vessels to enforce the arms embargo on Libya in a further effort to stabilize the country.
And both warring sides have agreed to continue the dialogue with the UN in Geneva on Tuesday.
