Visas, illegal immigration high on Malta-Libya agenda

Illegal immigration and the issue of visas for travellers between Libya and Malta will top the agenda of talks which Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will have in Tripoli tomorrow.

Dr Gonzi will be accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including Justice and Home Affaires Minister Tonio Borg, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, Police Commissioner John Rizzo and AFM commander Brigadier Carmel Vassallo.

Other issues will include Libya's relations with the EU, Libya's engagement in the Barcelona Process for Euro-Med cooperation and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The introduction of visa arrangements between the two countries when Malta joined the EU has proved to be problematic. Both former Foreign Affairs Minister John Dalli and Dr Frendo have visited Libya to discuss the matter. Many Maltese wishing to travel to Libya have complained that visas are taking too long to be processed and issued by Libya.

The fight against illegal immigration will also be dealt with. Just a few days ago, the European Union endorsed a proposal by Malta and Italy to lift an arms embargo on Libya. Malta and Italy have been pressing their EU counterparts to lift the embargo imposed on Libya in 1986 so that Tripoli could purchase equipment to beef up its fight against illegal migration.

Whilst confirming discussions on this topic, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said "the Maltese government has welcomed the European Union's decision to repeal its embargo on Libya. Malta has played an active role in discussions at the European level on reintegrating Libya into the political mainstream".

He said this agreement shall result in Libya being better positioned to give a significant contribution to the fight against illegal immigration and organised crime within the Mediterranean.

Many of the illegal immigrants who have crossed the central Mediterranean are thought to have left from Libya's long coastline.

The Prime Minister, who is expected to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, returns to Malta on Wednesday in time for a scheduled meeting with the President-Designate of the European Commission José Manuel Durao Barroso in Valletta.