Malta is expected to recognise the Transitional National Council as the legitimate Libyan government after an urgent Cabinet meeting to be held this morning.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday cut short a private visit in Prague to return to Malta after rapid developments in Libya saw the rebels march on Tripoli practically unopposed.
In an audio clip circulated by the Department of Information yesterday, Dr Gonzi said the Cabinet would discuss the situation of Maltese investors and workers in Libya and seek the appropriate way forward to “build a political, economic and cultural relationship with the Libyan people and the new government”.
This is the first time that Dr Gonzi has referred to the TNC as Libya’s “new government”. Until now Malta had only recognised the TNC as the legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people.
Dr Gonzi also said the government contingency committee met yesterday to coordinate the actions of various public entities, including security agencies and the health authorities, to be prepared for any eventuality.
The committee had served as a focal point at the beginning of the Libya crisis when thousands of foreign nationals were evacuated by sea and air.
Dr Gonzi said he contacted TNC chairman Mahmoud Jibril yesterday to congratulate him and the Libyan people for their success in their drive towards democracy and reiterated Malta’s offer to help in the transition period.
Similar congratulatory remarks were made by Opposition foreign affairs spokesman George Vella, who augured this was the start of a new peaceful era for the Libyan people.
The Labour Party saluted all those who lost their lives throughout these six months and urged the Libyan people to engage in a process of reconciliation to build “a just and open society”.
“The Libyan people’s uprising came at a very high human cost and the Labour Party hopes the people will cherish their new-found freedom by creating constitutional structures to prevent anybody else from dominating the country against the people’s will,” Dr Vella said.
Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Michael Briguglio said the dramatic developments in Libya were a celebration of freedom and a true symbol of what making history was all about. He saluted the Libyan people for getting rid of a ruthless tyrant and expressed hope that other “brutal dictatorships are done away with”.
The Nationalist Party also welcomed the developments in Libya and hoped this would lead to a new era built on the principles of justice, freedom, the safeguarding of human rights and democracy. But as the congratulatory remarks came in, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres appealed to all sides of the conflict in Libya to ensure that the thousands of third-country nationals trapped in Tripoli and other areas would be properly protected from harm. “Thousands of third-country nationals in Libya will be feeling great fear and uncertainty at this time,” he said.
Graffitti movement also congratulated the Libyan people for their success.