Malta recognises transitional council as Libyan government
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that Malta has recognised the National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya.
Speaking at a press conference after an emergency Cabinet meeting, Dr Gonzi said the Maltese government was renewing its appeal for Col Gaddafi to leave and stop the bloodshed.
He said the Cabinet reiterated its support to the Libyan people and Malta would continue to work within the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to Libya.
He said that a ship chartered by the Maltese governemnt to evacuate workers and give humanitarian aid was still unable to berth in Tripoli because of security concerns.
Talks are being held with EU officials on the possibility of providing a bigger ship in view of the need to evacuate foreign nationals. There are some 11 Maltese who have asked for evacuation.
Asked whether Malta still recognised the current Libyan ambassador, Dr Gonzi said the ambassador represented the Libyan government and was recognised as such unless the TNC decided otherwise.
He said the government was in favour of releasing frozen Libyan government assets to the Libyan council, but that would only happen when international sanctions were lifted.
Dr Gonzi said there have been no recent contacts with the Gaddafi camp.
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C Muscat
Aug 24th 2011, 08:32
Diga beda hiereg x sejjer jigri u ahna pass il-boghod u lanqas nippruvaw nara sa mnehierna. Ghidli xi hadd hux jara l-options ta wara Gaddafi. Issa li tajruh min ser imexxi u meta ser isiru l-elezzjonijiet. U mela xi darba kont ser naghraf gvern mhux elett kif suppost. Iz-zmien ma jdumx ma jtina parir kemm konna ahjar meta konna aghar.
Ms D Galea
Aug 23rd 2011, 19:22
When America and most of the civilized world carried on a several years long embargo against Libja in retaliation for the Lockerbie terrorist act, the usual anti-west whiners were protesting against the embargo
that negatively affected the Libjan people as a whole..
The very same whiners have now re-emerged to criticise the goverment , who like the rest of the civilized world eventually lifted the embargo for business as usual with Libja.
The mind boggles.
Wilfred Camilleri
Aug 23rd 2011, 18:20
Better late than never I guess!
Martin Büttner
Aug 23rd 2011, 18:17
This step comes very late. Other EU countries have recognised the National Transitional Council of Libya already months ago. Maybe the Maltese government wanted to keep a door open til the very last moment. One must not forget that the bounds between Maltese governments and Col. Gaddafi have been very strong. And nobody knows how much the good relations with the old regime have been worth for Maltese politicians and parties in pounds, dollars and euros. There are many rumors that Malta's dependency on oil and Enemalta's continuous resistance against more independence from the single energy source can be explained with these mentioned strong bounds.
I am afraid that the new leaders in Libya will not forget Malta's role over the past decades and the excellent relations between the two governments in the past. This will make it very difficult for Maltese enterprises to operate in Libya and to keep it as an important market.
Thank you, Mr Gonzi.
But also thank you, Mr Fenech Adami, Mr Alfred Sant, Mr Karmel Mifsud Bonnici, Mr Dom Mintoff.
Mr Wally Vella-Zarb
Aug 23rd 2011, 22:26
So, all our prime ministers (you forgot Dr Borg Olivier who was the first leader to visit Libya after the revolution) were wrong while you are right? What a high opinion you must have of yourself!
D. Xerri
Aug 23rd 2011, 17:43
That is why A LONG LONG TIME AGO the EU should have never let Gheddafi come over to Europe ! The EU is based on democracy and freedom SUPPOST - So they Should Have Never Accept a Dictator Leader inside any EU Country go figure inviting him to Brussels the EU Headquarters - Remember seeing EU Leaders smiling for photos with the Colonel AND EVEN Berlusconi Kissing Gheddafi`s Hand - Its all their fault !! The people of Libya were being killed and tortured and neglected from their rights of freedom of speech WITH THE EU Blessings for Entire Years !! They should have said to Gheddafi - Listen dear Gheddafi FIRST DO AN ELECTION with International supervision THEN IF YOU WIN IT - You will be accepted by the EUROPEAN UNION.!
Malta even Honored Gheddafi with Gieh ir-Repubblika - Malta`s highest award - Knowing Libyans were suffering under a dictator !! Shameful and Disgusting !!
So the European Union and all of its countries are guilty for the crimes of Gheddafi and his family against the Libyans as much as Gheddafi himself is - FullStop!! There are no Excuses !
Karl Gambin
Aug 23rd 2011, 17:05
about time e! Issa, ghax the Gaddafi threat is over? LOL.
Mr Stephen Borg
Aug 23rd 2011, 18:57
Exactly what did our PM do? All we did makes part of our international obligation towards people and countries in distress. We idly stood by and watched as the show unfolded.
Joseph Camilleri
Aug 23rd 2011, 17:02
Thank You Prime Minister... These past months, with a civil war on our border and the actions taken by you and the international community, you surely did the Maltese people proud in handling such a delicate situation. Well done!!
Kenneth Cassar
Aug 23rd 2011, 16:47
"Malta recognises transitional council as Libyan government".
The new Libyan government will ever be so grateful that we recognized the transitional council only when it looks safe to do so.
What an amoral bunch of gold-diggers.
Mr Karl Consiglio
Aug 23rd 2011, 15:46
I'm reading most of your comments and most of you don't seem to realize that if you are going to offend your waiter, its best you do it after you've eaten, not before. Same goes with political relations as say Gonzi with the Libya situation.
Karl Gambin
Aug 23rd 2011, 17:18
truly a point of view that reflects nothing else besides cowardice!
Adele Mintoff
Aug 23rd 2011, 20:21
@ Karl Gambin ...... You make it sound as easy as pie!!! What nonsense! The Maltese government couldn't have handled the situation any better than it did. Such a delicate situation, handled so well and you and others are sitting here criticizing. How could you????? It goes to show how shallow you are. I'm sorry to say this but it is nothing but the truth. Just hang on and wait for more revelations ..........all in their right time.
Adele Mintoff
Aug 23rd 2011, 20:21
@ Karl Gambin ...... You make it sound as easy as pie!!! What nonsense! The Maltese government couldn't have handled the situation any better than it did. Such a delicate situation, handled so well and you and others are sitting here criticizing. How could you????? It goes to show how shallow you are. I'm sorry to say this but it is nothing but the truth. Just hang on and wait for more revelations ..........all in their right time.
Ms D Galea
Aug 23rd 2011, 15:06
When will Mr Gheddafi realise that he is well past the point of no return.
How much more innocent blood has to be shed unnecessarily before the Gheddafi tribewill stop hiding underground like rodents and give up ?
Mr John O'Rourke
Aug 23rd 2011, 14:19
Here is an excerpt from Susan Lindauer’s article printed in “Veterans Today”, American Military and Foreign Affairs Journal, on June 7 (Susan Lindauer covered Libya at the United Nations as a U.S. Asset from 1995 to 2003):
“It’s a story CNN won’t report. Late at night there’s a pounding on the door in Misurata. Armed soldiers force young Libyan women out of their beds at gun-point. Hustling the women and teenagers into trucks, the soldiers rush the women to gang bang parties for NATO rebels—or else rape them in front of their husbands or fathers. When NATO rebels finish their rape sport, the soldiers cut the women’s throats.
Rapes are now ongoing acts of war in rebel-held cities, like an organized military strategy, according to refugees. These are daily occurrences, not isolated events. And Gadhaffi’s soldiers are not responsible. In fact, pro-Gadhaffi and “neutral” families are targeted as the victims of the attacks. Some of the NATO tactics may have occurred in hopes of laying blame on Gadhaffi’s door.”
You can be proud of yourself. An excellent choice. Those are exactly species one should side with.
Mrs Glorianne Pace
Aug 23rd 2011, 14:48
So you're saying that in the present scenario (Libya) Nato rebels gang-banged women on their planes? Nobody has spoken of seeing Nato on the ground in Libya yet...
Mr James Tyrrell
Aug 23rd 2011, 14:48
The fact that CNN are not reporting it should give you some idea as to how valid the stories are. Remember the stories about Saddam Hussein's soldiers bursting into hospitals in Saudi Arabia and dumping newborn babies onto the floor so that they could steal the incubators. Those stories were rubbish too and later proved to be so.
Corinne Vella
Aug 23rd 2011, 15:15
Susan Landauer was twice found unfit to stand trial. A psychiatrist testified that she had 'a long standing mental disorder that includes grandiose delusions'.
http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Ex-journalist-in-spy-case-unfit-for-trial-1285346.php
Mr John O'Rourke
Aug 23rd 2011, 15:43
@ Mr James Tyrrell
It’s funny you should have mentioned that.
The infamous Nurse Nayriah’s testimony you are referring to was certainly rubbish, or rather an ingeneered propaganda fake. But it was exactly this story which was cited ad nauseam by CNN, various American senators and the president to justify another UN-authorized coalition war led by the US. Just like the lies about Gaddafi’s atrocities were used to start this illegal aggression against the people of Libya.
Kenneth Cassar
Aug 23rd 2011, 16:44
@ James Tyrrell:
"The fact that CNN are not reporting it should give you some idea as to how valid the stories are"
CNN are not reporting that yesterday I grew wings and flew to Valletta and back. So this must be true.
Peter Gatt
Aug 23rd 2011, 14:07
It is a relief that the tyrant of Tripoli has reached his endgame. But should the government of Malta have acted so quickly in recognising the Transitional National Council (TNC)? Malta still has pending matters with Libya relating to our maritime boundary, especially the Medina Bank. The Libyan government continues to challenge Malta's claim on the potentially oil-rich Medina Bank.
Recognition of the TNC should have only occurred when the Libyan government formally recognises Malta's right to the entire Medina Bank. Diplomatic recognition of a foreign government that does not recognise our own borders is rather awkward and unheard of.
No one would want to accuse our PM of being unpatriotic, but Dr Gonzi should look to Malta's interests first and not just the interests of the Libyan people or some businessmen with commercial interests in Libya.
Italy has already made it clear that it wants an agreement on immigration with the new Libyan government because it is in its national interest to do so. So why has Malta waived its long term national interests, namely its sovereignity over the seabed and rushed to recognise a government that challenges our territorial integrity?
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 23rd 2011, 14:54
qed tippretendi li dak li sar bil-mohbi minn wara dahar il-poplu fil-passat jigi irrangat fi ftit granet. Veru hawn hafna nies li jinsu l-passat li gara ftit snin ilu maljar. Gonzi irranga hafna problemi li l-gverninjiet tal-labour ghafgu fil-passat, bil-mod il-mod u meta jigi ilwaqt kolox jissolva. Jekk ikun hemm il-LP fil-gvern forsi dawn jissewwew aktar malajr.
R Saliba
Aug 23rd 2011, 16:51
Peter, How can you discuss something with someone without recognizing their authority? It makes no sense. This is not a game. If the government of Malta do what you suggest, the TNC would laugh at such amateurish reasoning.
I think that we'd be lucky if the TNC will actually have good relations with Malta. Afterall, our country stayed 'neutral' during the uprising whilst using our constitution as a cheap excuse (as most short sighted commentators here wanted and quoted when some fighter made an emergency landing). Not only that, but Malta was one of the bestest friends of Ghaddafi. Unfortunately.
Adrian Buckle
Aug 23rd 2011, 14:00
About time!
Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
Aug 23rd 2011, 13:46
Alleluia
Frank Portelli
Mr M Cachia
Aug 23rd 2011, 13:38
Finally! Good on the government to finally reflect the will of the majority and recognise the freedom fighters as the official government of Libya.
F. Ezeddin
Aug 23rd 2011, 13:23
About time!
By the way be careful, I advise you to rethink your stand since the Devil Gaddafi and his mad sons are still around
Mr David Buttigieg
Aug 23rd 2011, 13:03
About time!
Mr Karl Consiglio
Aug 23rd 2011, 13:01
Gaddafi must be thinking like some friend Gonzi after all that couscous we ate together
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Aug 23rd 2011, 12:59
Bongu Gonz.
Ms D Galea
Aug 23rd 2011, 12:50
Mr Prime Minister,
now, will you please consider divesting Mr Gheddafi of the Gieh ir-Rrepubblika medal?
Thank you.
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 23rd 2011, 14:56
min barra din hemm l-isem ta gnien gaddafi li irid jinbidel ukoll. L-isem gaddafi jibqa imnizel fl-istorja ta Malta ghax bil fors u xejn aktar
Mr leo attard
Aug 23rd 2011, 15:01
Ms Galea, I would also ask gaddafi to return the baby goat that mintoff once gave him as a present! well, at least a replacement goat!
Please choose the reason of your report below: