1984 Malta-Libya co-operation agreement to be 'revitalised'

Malta and Libya have discussed revitalising the 1984 co-operation agreement between them to reflect the current political, economic and social situations in both countries.

"This exercise will further ensure that the economic activity and social interchange between Libya and Malta, and the respective peoples, will remain strong," Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said at the end of a three-day visit during which he had wide-ranging talks with Libyan ministers, parliamentarians and the commercial sector.

The 1984 co-operation agreement lists several areas of co-operation between the Maltese and Libyan governments, companies and citizens.

Subjects discussed during the visit ranged from illegal immigration, purchasing of oil and other petroleum by-products from Libya and the Libyan declaration of a fishing conservation zone.

"Libya agrees, in principle, to co-operate with Maltese fishermen and is ready to adopt an 'open heart, open mind' approach in talks to find a practical solution for Libyan and Maltese fishermen and investors to co-operate in the fisheries, marine conservation and fish processing sectors," Eng. Hussein el-Mary, chairman of the Libyan National Fisheries Investment Board, said during a meeting with Dr Frendo on Wednesday.

It is envisaged that his visit will be followed by a number of ministerial visits and visits of technical teams, which are expected to lead to new agreements and initiatives.

Technical meetings were also held on the margins of Minister Frendo's visit between senior Maltese officials accompanying Dr Frendo and Libyan officials in the areas of justice, public order and energy.

The delegation included Police Commissioner John Rizzo and Anthony Gruppetta, director-general, Fisheries Conservation and Control Division.

Commenting on the outcome of the visit, Dr Frendo said the visit has produced significant progress in various areas of bilateral relations between the two countries, and has confirmed and expressed the strong spirit of friendship between the countries and peoples.

"We have agreed, in principle, on a number of initiatives, mainly in the areas of higher education, political dialogue, public security and fisheries," Dr Frendo said.

He also referred to a note verbale presented by the Maltese authorities to the Libyan Government last July in which Malta had explained that the Maltese fishing fleet present in Libyan waters consists of no more than 15 vessels at any given time and that most of the Maltese vessels are family-run businesses having a long tradition of fishing in these waters.

"These vessels are no threat to conservation in Libyan waters and I am sure that a practical solution is within reach," Dr Frendo said.

On the issue of illegal immigration, Dr Frendo said that in the light of ongoing discussions between Malta and Libya on a readmission agreement, the Maltese Government has requested Libya joint co-operation in reintegration programmes for illegal immigrants who, after due process, are declared in Malta as ineligible for humanitarian protection and/or refugee status.

Dr Frendo said that it was important for countries in the central Mediterranean to send a clear message to international criminal organisations that the central Mediterranean is not a soft target or an easy route for illegal trafficking of human beings into Europe.

"This is even more important if there is a strong clampdown on the routes of the Western Mediterranean," Dr Frendo said.

Illegal immigration

In this context, Dr Frendo and the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation Abdulrahman Shalgam agreed to hold technical meetings, as soon as possible, between representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of both countries, to enhance methods of co-operation between Malta and Libya in fighting illegal immigration.

At another meeting on illegal immigration the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Public Security, Nasser Mabrouk, proposed that the current 5+5 Dialogue of the Western Mediterranean should, for illegal immigration issues, be extended to include Greece and Egypt in a 6 + 6 formation focusing specifically on issues of interest to southern European and north African countries, in particular mass migration from Africa to Europe.

Dr Frendo indicated the identification of illegal immigrants landing in Malta from Libya could be an immediate area of co-operation between the two countries in fighting illegal immigration.

A framework agreement between the Libyan Ministry of Higher Education and Malta's Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment is expected to be signed in Tripoli this week.

Another agreement is also expected to be signed in the coming weeks between the Academy of Graduate Studies based in Tripoli and the University of Malta on the exchange of University lecturers, teaching of English as a foreign language and possible joint Master's degree programmes between the University of Malta Link Campus and the Academy of Graduate Studies.

Dr Frendo and the Secretary for Higher Education of the General People's Committee, Dr Abdel Salam Gallali, reviewed the progress achieved during the past six months and renewed their intentions to co-operate effectively on higher education matters.

Co-operation in higher education was also the subject of another meeting held in Tripoli between Dr Frendo and the director of the Academy for Graduate Studies, Dr Saleh Ibrahim, on Wednesday afternoon.

Dr Frendo and Dr Ibrahim discussed initiatives that can be presented conjointly by the University of Malta and the academy, including postgraduate programmes on Mediterranean affairs, public lectures and student exchanges.

Dr Frendo said Libya agreed that the Joint Commission between the two countries should be kept, even as the model is discarded with other countries.