MLP welcomes outcome of Malta-Libya talks

The Labour Party said today that it welcomed the positive reactions that came out of the high level meeting between Malta and Libya yesterday.

Party foreign affairs spokesmen George Vella and Luciano Busuttil said relations between the two neighbouring countries should be special, based on reciprocal respect, cooperation and activities aimed at bringing about mutual and regional benefit.

They augured that the declarations made at the talks would be translated into tangible action, especially in important areas such as oil exploration and the problem of illegal immigration.

With regard to oil exploration, the MLP spokesmen said the best solution would be an agreement for joint exploration and exploitation. The 1996 Labour government had made proposals on those lines, the spokesmen said.

On migration, they said that they recognised that Libya too had a problem of migration from the south.They augured that the Libyan authorities would cooperate with all those seeking to control this human tragedy.

Referring to the forthcoming talks between the two countries, the MLP urged the Libyan authorities to keep in mind how, over the years, Malta and Libya had always found each other’s help in times of need. This reciprocal respect should lead to fair solutions to the problems which existed between them.