Maltese workers in Libya extend stay
Libya's refusal to allow travellers from Schengen areas to enter the country has led Maltese workers to extend their stay in the north African state for as long as their visas allow them, fearing the employees who normally come out to replace them may be barred entry.
Maltese embassy officials were informed by Maltese employers in a meeting on Sunday of the precarious situation they were facing after Libya retaliated against Switzerland's visa blacklist of Libyan nationals.
The meeting was organised by Maltese Ambassador to Libya George Cassar, who gave leading Maltese employers in Libya a briefing about the latest developments, government sources said.
Mr Cassar told them that hardly anyone from Schengen area countries, including Malta, was now being allowed into Libya, irrespective of the type of visa they hold.
Employers agreed to pass on a list of employees currently working in the north African state to embassy officials for better monitoring of the situation. A list of Maltese workers who are supposed to travel to Libya will also be passed on.
Malta has important trade and business relations with Libya and between 2004 and 2008 exported some €341 million worth of goods and services to that country.
The ongoing spat between Libya and Switzerland started when the Alpine state blacklisted a group of around 180 senior Libyan officials, including members of the Gaddafi family. Switzerland is a member of the Schengen area and its decision means no Schengen country may issue visas to those people.
However, the dispute goes back to 2008 when the Libyan leader's son, Hannibal Gaddafi was arrested with his wife in Geneva on allegations they mistreated hotel employees.
The charges were later dropped but Libya was incensed after pictures of Mr Gaddafi in custody appeared in the Swiss press.
Two Swiss businessmen were arrested in Libya four days after the Geneva incident. One of the men was released last week while another is serving a reduced jail term for being in breach of immigration rules.
Hannibal Gaddafi yesterday met the detained Swiss businessman in a Tripoli prison where he is being held.
They spoke in private but, in a brief comment to journalists, the businessman Max Goeldi said he hoped Hannibal would "use his influence" to help him leave Libya.
Last week Libya's leader called for a jihad, or holy war, against Switzerland and a Muslim economic boycott of the country.
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A. Borg
Mar 6th 2010, 07:23
Just an update....
Yesterday evening, 12 Maltese nationals arriving on Airmalta were refused entry and sent back to Malta.
Do not even bother travelling to Libya for the time being.........
John Micallef
Mar 3rd 2010, 09:02
Imma kien hemm ghalfejn jghaddi xahr ghal din il- Laqgha?
Malta is collecting the details of maltese persons in Libya only now we are under crisis.
UK does this on normal basis since 5 years.
Spot the difference.
Nota: Jekk nispiccaw ahna li nahdmu il-Libja bla xooghol, issib nies ma wiccu jiregistra il- gvern, aktar milli sab meta ghalqed it-Tarzna!
Nota ohra: Tinsewx li jekk i-Libja tidecidi li tiritalja billi tiftah il- fruntieri mal- Afrika, 5 snin ohra nghidlu li darba kien hemm l-Ewropa. Ahseb!!!
pawlu cauchi
Mar 2nd 2010, 20:55
This is what we got by joining the EU. Maltese were kings in Libya, we did not even need a passport to enter the country let alone visa that before we became European. Foreign companies used to employee Maltese to represent them in Libya because we could enter the country so easily. This all history now and all those Maltese are no longer employed with these international companies as we lost our no visa advantage.
Our government should now at least do its best to solve this problem so that we not lose even what is left. I can say that our Libya brothers respect us Maltese more than many Maltese do.
M. Cassar
Mar 2nd 2010, 15:28
@ J Genovese
I agree with you.
Our old man yet Influential Dom Mintoff or any of our ex presidents Guido de Marco or Eddie would end this visa-spat. Surprised? You shouldn’t actually be surprised as Libya’s Col. maintains good relations with all our political colors [and directions].
Personal relations come before businesses in Arab’ culture [actually this is the case world wide].
On apolitical levels the Arab culture in general they have too much respect to old peoples. By the way what could be achieved by any of our ex presidents by a telephone call with the Colonel can easily be doubled-gain by our beloved George Abela by mean of 2 cents SMS.
J Genovese
Mar 2nd 2010, 14:57
I think one person could help our relatives to regain their work again in Libya, our ex prime Minister, Duminku Mintoff. In the past he used to have great relationship with Gaddafi and he is the only person who could help in this situation. With all respect, I don't know what the government is doing to help the maltese employees in Libya so to maintain their job. It is already hard to find a job in Malta, how are these employees going to find a job here as well?
Let alone the stress they are passing through not being able to get out of Libya and join their families.
R.Calleja
Mar 2nd 2010, 12:27
Italians in Maltese No???? Thanks for the information.What is our goverment doing?
What about the Maltese comapnys working in Libya like and workers who are overstaying there visa .Can some one tell us if Coll Gadaffi is still visiting Malta? When? We should take a position and just back out from the shengen states.Look at the example of UK.
a.dalli
Mar 2nd 2010, 11:35
Just been confirmed that Italian nationals arriving on Alitalia were yesterday night allowed into Libya. Other nationalities were refused.
In the meantime three maltese nationals arriving on Air malta today were refused entry. SO MUCH FOR OUR GOOD BROTHERLY RELATIONS.