Tuesday, 28th October 2008 - 18:53CET

Libyan Foreign Minister in Malta

Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgem, Secretary of the Libyan General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (Foreign Minister) arrived in Malta this evening for a short visit.

He was greeted by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and will tomorrow hold talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Dr Borg. He is also due to make a courtesy call on President Eddie Fenech Adami.

The talks will focus on bilateral issues, with immigration and oil exploration in the waters between Libya and Malta being on the agenda.

The Libyan minister will also participate in a meeting of the Libya-Malta Mixed Commission, which meets every two years.

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Comments

J Farrugia (on 29/10/08)

Mr V Micallef, according to your arguments Malta shuns third world countries, while Europe and US shun Malta because we have been the lackeys of Gaddafi for since 1971. Come on let's be serious. DO you know what Gadaffi has been giving us since the brotherhood of man (1971)? Surely not manna from heaven. Because we are just a tiny island this Gadaffi thinks he can run roughshod on us. We tried your reasoning many times but always Malta had it the worst. With these people one can never know where one stands. Look at what happened to Italy. With all the millions Italy gave to libya, they objected to MAroni visiting Libya. That's their reasoning. So please enough of YOUR emotions.

V.Micallef (on 29/10/08)

@J. Farrugia

All Maltese of good will would agree with your feelings. But emotions apart, one must take into consideration the fact that Libya looks on the present Maltese Government as anti-Third World. If we want this perception to change allowing for a more honest, straightforward and friendly relationship between the Malta and Libya, Government and the Opposition should set up a bipartisan committee specifically for the purpose. Within the parameters of such an institution the two countries could discuss the most important matters that concern and preoccupy the smaller one in a candid, neighbourly manner. Present relations can only favour the bigger party and perhaps some individuals in the process leaving the majority of the Maltese in the lurch.

J Farrugia (on 29/10/08)

Kemm gie jigri dan malli ra l-potenzjal ta' Malta li nsibu z-zejt. Nittamaw li din mhix ohra ta' Gaddaffi li ma jridniex insibu z-zejt halli nibqghu it-tallaba li dejjem konna sa mill-1971.

V.Micallef (on 29/10/08)

We never come to know the real details. See this quote from an important newsman: "Despite our burgeoning information technology, we are still putty in the hands of those who give us the details they choose about what is happening in the world." The only things that show us to be abreast of the rest of the world are the negative ones. In things positive we are still light years away.

Christopher Briffa (on 28/10/08)

I just hope that the reason of this visit is not to prevent us from extracting oil as had happened in the past but to help stop the influx of illegal immigrants. It`s about time that Libya showed it`s "friendship" with actions and not with the usual empty statements.