MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - There is no need for the European Union to start a land operation to escort relief cargoes in Libya, Russia's EU envoy Vladimir Chizhov has said.
"There are no grounds for starting such an operation so far," he said at a press conference in Moscow on Monday.
Moreover, the European Union did not turn to the UN, the organization which has the right to give the go-ahead to such operations, on this issue.
"If the need for such an operation arises, only the UN Security Council resolution can sanction it," he said.
The situation in Libya will be among the issues to be discussed at the Russia-EU summit in Nizhny Novgorod, he said.
"The summit in Nizhny Novgorod, like any other summit or ministerial meeting, will address the most pressing international issues," Chizhov said.
"Libya has the right to claim a leading place [on the international agenda]," the Russian diplomat said.