Juan Ameen
Malta stands firm on visas to Libyans
500 Maltese travellers affected by Libyan ban
Malta is standing by its decision to issue limited territorial validity visas to Libyans from April 5 even though the European Commission has expressed concern.
Malta must safeguard its national interests and keep its good relations with its neighbours, including Libya, Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg insists.
A person who is granted a limited territorial validity visa is only allowed to travel to countries that accept it. This is wider than a Malta-only visa, which, the minister said, Malta had at no stage stopped granting to Libyans.
Just two days ago, a spokesman for the European Home Affairs Commissioner said he was worried about Malta's stand in light of the diplomatic row between Libya and Switzerland.
However, the government was sticking by its decision to apply new Schengen rules, which would come into force on April 5, to issue limited territorial validity visas, Dr Borg said.
He stressed that nothing had changed since Switzerland barred entry to 188 Libyan citizens, including Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family. Libya retaliated and stopped issuing entry visas to citizens of most European countries.
"We never stopped issuing Malta-only visas; this is nothing new," Dr Borg said.
Malta, he added, did not need any permission to go ahead with its proposal that a group of countries would be able to issue visas valid for travel within those same territories.
"If by April 5, the issue will have been resolved, all's well and good. If not, we will simply inform the Commission we will be issuing these visas."
Malta is expected to formalise its proposal at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday. If all the Schengen countries within the EU agree to Malta's request, the Swiss visa ban will become worthless because blacklisted Libyans will still be allowed to travel in most of Europe.
Through the Schengen agreement, people can travel passport-free between 26 European countries, including some non-EU states. It also allows a member state to deny individual access to the whole Schengen zone.
This week, Malta encouraged other Mediterranean states with commercial ties to the north African state, such as Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, to follow suit. So far, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia had already expressed interest in the proposal, Dr Borg said. No one should condemn Malta for making such a decision. Instead, they should criticise the country that used it wrongly, he added.
"I think they should realise that it (the blacklist) caused serious political problems for countries."
"We have to do what is in our national interest and maintain good relations with our neighbours," Dr Borg said.
According to ministry sources, about 500 Maltese who travel regularly to Libya have been affected by the ban.
22 Comments
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Anthony Grech
Mar 22nd 2010, 22:19
@n camilleir What exactly is your point? Because a few businessmen invested in Libya we as a nation should buck the EU? I really could care less who invested in Libya, my point is standing by Libya, a dictatorship, instead of the EU is crazy. Far more people work and invest in the EU than Libya, but even if this wasn't true it is besides the point. Just because a few of our citizens choose to invest in Libya means nothing to me, I would have no more care than if they had invested in Zimbabwe. Please stop with your ideas that just because there are a few Maltese (1/10 of 1% of Maltese citizens) who might lose some money then we as a nation must back someone who is clearly in the wrong. What would you have said if the person who was wronged by Gaddafi's son was Maltese?
n camilleir
Mar 22nd 2010, 12:50
@ anthony grech ... It's people like you that had put this country even worse then ever with such mentality. What makes you think that the maltese who works in libya go there for some few extra peanuts. Ask for instance the businessmen that had invested millions in there or even more St James hospital that had invested a hospital there in Tripoli. It's a pity that such mentality still exists and whatever happens in your europe world is wonderland.
Anthony Grech
Mar 21st 2010, 18:05
@ n camilleri and Ray Calleja. Are you two kidding. You would sell out an entire nation for a few hundred (maybe) Maltese workers in Libya? What is wrong with you people here. You would sell your souls for a few peanuts. What about all the Maltese who work in Europe? What about the educational oppurtunities for our students in European Universities and other schools? When a nation puts it's faith in a place like Libya (yes I know nice people, blah blah blah) over the rest of Europe we are doomed. If I was another EU country I would demand Malta be kicked out, but hey we do like that Libya, no matter who runs it.
Anthony Grech
Mar 21st 2010, 15:14
I say forget about Europe, our true hearts lay with Libya. That beacon of freedom to the whole world. I can't tell you how angry that "rule of law" in Switzerland makes me. We all know that we are much closer in mind and soul to North Africa than we are to Europe., so why pretend. I think we can all agree that we would much rather live in a place like Libya than a hell like Switzerland.
a.dalli
Mar 21st 2010, 13:09
@Martinelli,
Once we have opted to sell body and soul to Europe there is very little scope of doing any business or show any interest towards a particular southern neighbour.
So for you it is the money and not the principle that countsmost.
n camilleri
Mar 21st 2010, 10:02
For all those who is not involved in Libya or employed there useless blabbing here pretending you are some experts and you know it all. This is effecting badly the maltese employers there and 'for you all' you should thank god that tomorrow you are going to work whilst we are everyday hoping to go back to work. The only way that this can solve all this mess that they had put us through is to get us out from the schengen and it will save a lot of problems to this little island.
Ray Calleja
Mar 21st 2010, 09:34
@ALL
We should have already taken the stand and out of Shengen Visa.What are we waiting for? Buisness in Libya is at its best and more the 500 are doing buisness there.What about more workers loosing there Jobs? Come on dear Minister do what is best for the Nation,you also now have the baking from the opposition to show that we can be united when it is needed.
J Martinelli
Mar 20th 2010, 19:34
@ Debbie Tully & A Dalli
You are both very forgetful. An agreement was signed not too long ago where Italy is paying Libya a few billion dollars with respect to certain compensation going as far back as its colonial days. Barring Italians could cause suspension of payments to Libya. Ghaddafi is no fool - easy money is hard to come by, these days!
If we had the cash to spare and waved a few million under Ghaddafi's nose he would also immediately open the gates for Maltese. But all Ghaddafi has for Maltese are gunboats at the ready, in case we try to drill for oil in waters deemed to be within our territory many years ago.
lgalea
Mar 20th 2010, 21:15
You are wrong Martinelli. There are hundreds of Maltese workers earning good money in Libya and many Maltese companies who have invested there. Your postings show how the PN had brainwashed you against the Libyans and Gaddafi Martinelli. I have many quotes to prove it but I am not going to give them now because I have Malta close to my heart not like you constantly writing against Gaddafi and Libya.
a.dalli
Mar 20th 2010, 18:28
@Debbie, not some but all Italians - except for Tourists are being allowed in.
On the other hand no maltese is being allowed in
debbie tully
Mar 20th 2010, 18:07
So it seems that we have here another 2 weeks. i dnt think it being undestood that we really need to get going back. Its taking to long................................ And why are some Italians allowed in and maltese no.
Francios Esteva'
Mar 20th 2010, 15:17
Chicken qwakkkk .... qwak qwak. qwak....this remind me of the little mouse against the Lion.
lgalea
Mar 20th 2010, 14:27
Resolved or not Malta should have already started issuing visas and to hell with the SCHENĠENN rules and Switzerland. What is the government waiting for?
a.dalli
Mar 20th 2010, 14:12
@Martinelli,
I hope not, for as far as we are told Malta is not making any restricions and still allowing one and all
Denis Catania
Mar 20th 2010, 14:03
Will Libya help Malta with illegal immigrants ? Or this will be another one way street. Malta helps with nothing in return as usual.
James De Giorgio
Mar 20th 2010, 13:58
What about Libya? Are they going to let the Maltese enter? If not, then this whole scheme is a FARCE and should be dismantled.
J Martinelli
Mar 20th 2010, 12:59
@ Patrick Sacco
Read the report again. Malta WILL issue the LTVs on April 5 unless the issue is resolved between Libya ans Switzerland, sooner.
@ a.dalli
The VISAs will not be restricted to the 500 working there!
emanuel mifsud
Mar 20th 2010, 12:55
Best idea so far. Lets hope that Malta will stick to its decision and not be talked out of it by any one. Only time will tell
Joseph Formosa
Mar 20th 2010, 12:50
Will the Maltese Buisness community be allowed to go to Libya as of the 5th April?
Or are we doing all this for nothing?
Has there been an agreement with Libya on this?
Buisness is being lost to other contries since contracts are not being respected due to travel ban. Answers please...
Patrick Sacco
Mar 20th 2010, 12:44
Now that Malta has issued the entry visas to Libyans, what are the Libyans doing? Are they allowing the 500 Maltese freely?
vincent a galea
Mar 20th 2010, 11:56
A very wise decision.... HEAR! HEAR!
a.dalli
Mar 20th 2010, 10:26
You are forgetiing the thousands that commut for business purposes.
500 are permanent workers with the majority of them holding official documentation