Commission discusses visas for Libyan visitors

The introduction of visas for visitors from Libya was raised at a recent meeting in Tripoli of the mixed commission between Malta and Libya, Finance Minister John Dalli confirmed in reply to a parliamentary question yesterday.

He said that during the talks he reacted to comments being made by some in Malta that Malta should not join the EU because that did not suit Libya. He had explained that the government decided according to Malta's interests. Furthermore, EU membership for Malta would add relevance to Malta's relations with Libya as the two countries were on the frontiers of two continents and two economic and political blocs.

It was agreed that detailed discussions would be held by the home affairs ministers of both countries.

Mr Dalli said it was shameful of those who wanted to sabotage Malta to try to damage relations with Libya in this way.

The question was put by Labour MP Leo Brincat.

The minister also said in reply to another question by Mr Brincat that the privatisation of the Libyan Arab Maltese Holding Company was not being considered for the moment. The company had been included in the White Paper on privatisation, published in 1999.