NATO to help Libya with defence capacity-building

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that NATO was ready to help Libya build its defence capacity when conditions allowed for it.

He made the remarks before attending a European Union (EU) foreign affairs meeting during which EU ministers were to discuss intervening in attempts to smuggle people across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya, Xinhua reported.

Speaking on the situation in Libya, Stoltenberg said, "I strongly support the efforts by the United Nations (UN) to reach a political agreement which can establish a unity government in Libya and to establish ceasefire."

He added that NATO would help Libya increase its ability to defend and to create stability.

Stoltenberg stated he also welcomed dialogue between the EU and the UN to create necessary mandates for operation at sea to dismantle the criminal networks that are responsible for the smuggling.