Switzerland urged to settle visa dispute with Libya

The Foreign Ministers of Libya, Italy and Malta today urged Switzerland to speed up its efforts to settle pending problems with Libya and to remove its blacklist of Libyan nationals who have been refused a Schengen area visa.

Italy and Malta also urged Libya to lift its refusal to grant entry to Schengen area travellers, while keeping in mind the efforts of both countries for a resolution of the current situation.

The appeals were made following a meeting in Rome and ahead of a meeting which the Libyan Foreign Minister, Mousa Kousa, is due to hold tomorrow with the Spanish presidency of the EU. He will also travel to Berlin on Friday for a meeting with Swiss government representatives.

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said the ministers had discussed various ways how the issue could be resolved.

Dr Borg travelled to Rome this morning on a flight from Malta with the Libyan minister.