Malta prepared for 'any eventuality' if Libya visas issue persists - minister

The month-long impasse between Schengen area countries and Libya could be broken today if the Swiss government accepts a solution proposed by the Spanish EU presidency, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said this morning.

He said at a press conference that while Malta hoped that the problem could be finally resolved, it was preparing for 'all eventualities,' but did not give details.

Maltese workers have been among Schengen area travellers barred entry to Libya after Libya retaliated to a Swiss Schengen blacklist of 188 Libyan officials.

Dr Borg had talks with the Libyan prime minister in Tripoli earlier this week.

He said this morning that Malta stood by its view that the Schengen treaty should not be used for political issues. Malta, he said, also did not wish to be involved in issues between other states.

Asked why Italian workers were being allowed into Libya, but Maltese were not, Dr Borg said he could not confirm that the Italians were being let in, but it appeared that these could be workers engaged in a particular Libyan project.

SOMALIA OPERATION

Dr Borg also referred to plans for Maltese troops to be sent to Somalia as part of anti piracy operations (see separate story). He said this not only helped Maltese soldiers gain experience, but it also benefited the standing of the Maltese merchant flag.

In other comments, Dr Borg said the visit to Malta by Italian President Georgio Napolitano is expected to take place in June. The visit to Malta by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is also still on the cards.

Dr Borg said that highlights of the activities of his ministry over the past year included the setting up of the EU-Arab League liaison office in Floriana and the EU decision to locate in Malta the seat of the Immigration and Asylum Agency.

He said that his ministry had been very active in promoting trade exchanges and had facilitated the signing of 15 double taxation agreements.

€330,000 were distributed in overseas development aid last year. Most went for capital projects in Africa in which Maltese NGOs are involved.