The foreign ministers' meeting of the European Union (EU) decided in Luxembourg Monday to lift the arms ban against Libya, which the bloc imposed 18 years ago.

The EU also requires that after the lifting, arms transfers to Libya "will be subject to the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports".

A declaration issued by the meeting said the ministers also decided that "a special post-embargo arms transfers regime, which is presently being developed within the EU Council, will apply."

The EU will also send a technical mission to Libya to examine arrangements for combating illegal immigration.

The ministers insisted that Libya resolves remaining EU concerns, like human rights, the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical workers.

Spokesman for the EU Council Nicolas Kerleroux said the lifting doesn't mean that Libya can import any kinds of weapons from the EU member states, and that the importing is under the control of the code of conduct agreed by all EU member states.

The EU started to impose arms embargo on Libya in 1986 when Libya was accused of supporting terrorist organizations.

Currently the EU still imposes arms embargo on around 10 countries across the world.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2004)