Libyan minister praises Malta in visas standoff

Matin Cassar

Mar 5th 2010, 14:38

I am not sure in which message board someone raised a very important question: why Switzerland is a member of Schengen area?Here I scratch my head and add two more questions, first, why Iceland (an Island with a bout 300,000 population) is a member of the Schengen area? Second, why the UK is not a member of both the Euro-zone and Schengen zone?

I must first clarify that Schengen agreement is not limited to visa matters. Schengen agreement permits Capital’s freedom of movement too.

While the Wall Street represents the Money Mafia-Trion’s right wing and provides immune for financial illegal transactions ensued from weapons, prostitution and drugs...etc on the other side of the Atlantic both Switzerland and London represent the left side of the Mafia-Trion’s wing. This probably explains why Mr. Berlusconi's is retaliating from his Alpine neighbor Switzerland as Mr. Berlusconi's too is angry over a row connected with bank secrecy suggested by Switzerland. The more troubled Greece and its secret debits with Wall Street reveals the more scandals would follow!
It appears to me this dispute is beyond what appears in the media to be a dispute over Visa-issue in connection with some travelers!

Anthony Grech

Mar 4th 2010, 18:54

What is going on here. Are you people saying that Switzerland should not uphold the law just because the person being charged is the son of a dictator! I am sure that most Libyans are fine people but what has that to do with a crime.

Ahmed Marwan

Mar 4th 2010, 18:11

@colin stanley:

Just to let you know that Maltese working in Libyan are much more than the Libyans working here in Malta. U do not need to know from where i know this but it i have real evidence.
In Libya there are over 10,000 Maltese but here in Malta there are between 2000 - 3000.
Add this to your knowladge.


Thanks

Bill Khan

Mar 4th 2010, 17:21

Switzerland and human rights do not go together. For decades Switzerland has welcomed with open arms money from across the world. Much of the billions of dollars has come from crooked politicians and dictators violating human rights left right and centre.
Apparently Switzerland has no qualms about where that money comes from but has a problem with a persoanlity who might or might not have mistreated a house maid.

I. SCHEMBRI

Mar 4th 2010, 16:54

To all those with the negative comments...........I am one of those people stranded here!! I have a job waiting for me, and that of my partner. our daughter's school and a lovely home + great neighbors waiting for us in Tripoli!!!! You have no idea who the libyans really are!! They are very timid people and have great respect for us. They address us with Madam and Sir. Is there any other nationality that address us on that basis?
The Swiss surely will not! They are a bunch of snobs.
And so are all of you writing all this crap.

Martin Cassar

Mar 4th 2010, 16:21

@ colin stanley @ @Jason Coliero. It’s good to have Maltese people working in Libya, but I think that there are more Libyans working in M alta than Maltese in Libya, why don't we send them back home.

You have raised a very good point indeed. I take it you are not mixing Libyans working in Malta with illegal immigrants-right? If so, then we must equally ask how much money (NI and taxes..Etc) Libyans working in Malta positively contributing to Malta’s coffer? As far as what I know the Maltese working in Libya contribute (ZERO) in terms of National Insurance) to Libya’s coffer.

colin stanley

Mar 4th 2010, 15:16

@Jason Coliero. it's good to have maltese people working in Libya, but I think that there are more Libyans working in M alta than Maltese in libya, why don't we send them back home.

kenneth bartolo

Mar 4th 2010, 07:01

hiq hiq ,

those who passed trough it is obvious that they are working for someone that has the power and knows the big bosses and officials .if the officials are loosing money obviously they will pass trough and as every body knows money always talks. immagine a rig without manager , driller, etc etc etc . immagine all the buisness running at this point will be stuck as when there where the sanctions going on . NAAAHH !!!!!!! no matter the religion no mater any blacklist situation.

Martin Cassar

Mar 3rd 2010, 16:47

Part 2

Before pointing fingers and or asking to remover minarets from Mosques as this seems to be part of Libya- Switzerland visa-spat can we just envisage what would have been the democratic west reaction if for instance the Libyans, Iranians or Egyptians voted to ban the churches to have steeples, even if we are talking about a single Church in each country?

Would we still be approving the Egyptians, Iranian or Libyan’s right of democracy? Would we still be siding with either the Iranians or the Egyptians or Libyans for using their democratic rights? Would the EU keep mum? Would EU Human Rights apologists keep quite? I very much doubt!

I would also like to point out that the Swiss have set a dangerous precedent by putting HUMAN RIGHTS’ related matters into referendum.

Once again the Switzerland failed miserably by using human rights as political tools!

Martin Cassar

Mar 3rd 2010, 15:27

Can you envisage what would have been our reaction if a Maltese holding a diplomatic passport was arrested in Libya? What would have been the reaction if the Libyan government blacklists our Dr.Gonzi or our president George Abela?

This row has not flared last month as some [moon dwellers] may think. The sharp twist occurred last November when Switzerland asked the other 25 Schengen signatories to restrict visas to Libyan passport holders.

Again can we imagine what would have been the reaction if the Libyan government asked other Maghreb Union members to ban nationals from EU? Probably if something similar were to happen the reaction would have been a crusade not a mere Jihad...lol

Countries don’t choose their neighbors. If countries don’t have problems we don’t need diplomacy or politics. This is where the Switzerland government miserably failed and acted off-diplomacy books.

Here I strongly criticize the Swiss government. I don’t criticize the Swiss peoples, the Swiss culture or the Swiss religion. Will the rascals and Jackasses ever learn how to opine or pass a comment? I very much doubt indeed as in some cases it appears to be a DNA related dilemma!

Carmel Attard

Mar 3rd 2010, 10:23

Unlike most European countries, namely Germany and England who are well known for example ..Not to critisice Israel, but rather bend over backwards to please the zionist state, regardless of Israel's war crimes, and so on and so forth .. but they are first in line to condemn other countries. MALTA does not need to please neither Libya nor Switzerland for that matter. Malta regardless of our size, can voice our opinions and criticise who ever does injustices. While Libya, is by no means a faultless clean player, Switzerland 's actions were always going to cause controversy ..but there again, how many churches get a go ahead in places like Saudi Arabia, Yemen and also Egypt of all places and other predominantly Islamic States???

Carmen Attard

Mar 3rd 2010, 09:21

Before you write your comments here better think of the damage you do .Dont forget that w ere not the only people in the world that understand english,so please for the sake of our jobs and the people he who are still there don't do more damage with ridiculous comments.

lgalea

Mar 3rd 2010, 07:35

Dr. Nathan Pardi That is exactly why we should not be bound by whatever any other country decides and decide in our own interest. That is the danger of belonging to the eu and the SCHENĠENN agreement.

Jason Coleiro

Mar 3rd 2010, 07:34

Totally agree with Mr. Marwan. Many Maltese don't realise how much Libya is giving us, how much families rely on Libya and how much positive finance comes from Libya. I have been in working in Libya for more than 10 years and from my perspective i only found good and helping people over there unlike here.Only with Libya`s help i found a job unlike here. Sometimes i really wonder what my Malta and it`s people has become. We need to face reality and stand with places that are really contributing financially to our island unlike the EU which is putting us in an abyss where we can never get out of.

Damian Fenech

Mar 3rd 2010, 07:09

Libyan minister praises Malta in visas standoff, And Malta shall Praise Libya when they stop shipping Illegal immigrants to our shores.

S. Vella

Mar 3rd 2010, 05:04

@Martin Cassar

You want Europe to sanction Switzerland because they arrested a Libyan for abusing his domestic servant? Do you think that Libya is justified in calling for a "Jihad" against Switzerland? Are you justifying terrorism here, Mr Cassar? Are you serious or incredibly naive?

Dr. Nathan Pardi

Mar 3rd 2010, 03:57

Being praised by Libya isn't much to get excited about. In fact, it might be an indication that we are failing to properly analyze the underlying situation. Most of the western world, of which Malta was a small part the last time I looked, would not really want this sort of approval, considering the source of same. Besides, what sort of friend (Libya) would blame his other friends (Malta) for the actions of a third party (i.e. Switzerland) in the first place?? Believe me, if Libya wasn't in need of our people's expertise, they would get rid of the infidels working there asap. This is the very essence of the employment situation, wherein the master always gains more than he pays the servant, so Libya really isn't doing our people any great favor by allowing them to remain and work there. Our foreign policy must never be the captive of any power, great, small, or just plain bizarre.

Ahmed Marwan

Mar 3rd 2010, 00:28

I do not agree with the fact that a counrty such Switzerland, which is not in the EU but only in the Schengen area should make all this problems to the EU countries just for self interests, as Switzerland is in the Schengen area just to have free movement within EU countries, but it is not for its interests to fully join EU as the EU rgulations may not be as good. Moreover, i do not know why Switzerland is in the Schegen area where being in Europe all Europeans can move within Europe freely with the passport (maybe abit restricted). Thus, Switzerland should drop from the Schengen area or join EU fully.
For example The UK is in the EU but not within the Schengen, Swistzerland should do the same not the opposite.

Many people, especially Maltese have negative view of Libyans, although i never experieced it personally, i know it because I am seeing it everyday , many Libyans face racist actions everyday. However, (hopefully) now most people are aware of the treasures that Libya has, and not that all Libyans are the same.

Thanks for reading and hope that everything will be solved.

Peace
Ahmed Marwan

Mark Cassar

Mar 3rd 2010, 00:04

You are right Dennis. An effort should be done to resolve the visa standoff immediately and the oil dispute. We are members of the UN and EU why is the government so afraid to fight for what is rightfully ours. Firstly all those Maltese who were treated like hostages could take the Libyan government to Eu courts for such violations, and secondly if the oil is in our territory then no maverick has a right to deny us what is rightfully ours, we must press Libya and then Eu/UN. If not then why did we join the UN and the EU? The government should diplomatically seek an immediate solution to both and then proceed to Eu courts for immediate justice to be served. We have a right to be treated with human dignity when in Libya and we have right for oil found in our territory.

martin saliba

Mar 2nd 2010, 20:32

Minister Mousa , do not take any notice of these people that grovel at your feet for your money in one sentence and then call you uncivilised in the next. Hopefully a solution will be found soon as the jobs Maltes have in your country are important to us. I spent 5 years in Libya and i dont have anything major to complain about.

Denis Catania

Mar 2nd 2010, 20:27

Blah blah blah now let us drill for OUR oil.

Henry Abela

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:54

Foreign Minister Mousa, Malta needs facts and actions not futile praise which serves nothing. Open up your territory for Maltese nationals if yours is a friendly country to Malta. That' is what we're asking. You cannot inflict collective punishments to third parties not involved in the quarrel. You did us an action worthy of the worst enemy. Showing yourselves that your country is still uncivilised.

J Brincat

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:51

Praises alone would not solve our plight.

We need to be shown some sympathy from the Libyans.

r.calleja

Mar 2nd 2010, 18:46

Who are the Maltese.I am aware of the situation and the only one allowed entrance was a man who holds a diplomatic Passport.The Italians were all allowed.

Martin Cassar

Mar 2nd 2010, 17:58

Very positive news indeed, hopefully business gets back as usual soon.

This spat showed that the whole mechanism of the Schengen agreement must be revised and the EU should take some austerity measures against Switzerland. Banning a head of state is off diplomacy books unless of course the government of Switzerland was declaring a diplomatic ‘Jihads’.

Switzerland National security? If this was the case-could the Swiss government please elaborate how a list to ban 180 Libyan nationals including Governments figures and head of a state could provide immune to Switzerland?m

Human rights?
So Switzerland black list some Libyans VIP’s including Gaddafi meantime let North Korea's leader’s families to stay in Switzerland to study and live. This is called hypocrisy and prove that human rights are another useless slogan. Switzerland used human rights as a political tool this is actually as bad as what France, China, Iran or Libya does when it comes to business vs. human rights. Using human rights as political tool is extremely ugly!