Maltese diplomats will return to the embassy in Tripoli on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said.

Malta will also be setting up a consulate in Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city, he said during a press statement yesterday afternoon.

However, he refused to take questions citing “the delicate situation in Libya”.

The Tripoli embassy was never entirely closed is it remained manned by locally engaged staff. However, travelling visas could not be issued without the presence of the Maltese diplomats.

This means that, as from Thursday, the embassy can again process visa applications to Malta and other Schengen countries.

Since the last Maltese officials left the embassy in March, those who wanted to visit Malta were forced to apply for a visa through the embassy in Tunisia. This caused logistical problems as people found it difficult to travel during the uprising.

It is not clear whether Malta’s ambassador George Cassar, who left Libya in February, will resume his role.

Dr Borg said the government decided to “reopen” the Tripoli embassy following consultation with social partners. It was also decided to strengthen the commercial presence within the embassy. Officials from Malta Enterprise will be based in both Tripoli and Benghazi.

In June, Malta had opened a liaison office in Benghazi that would be used as the consulate. Dr Borg said the government’s decision to open the consulate in Benghazi – the birthplace of the Libyan uprising and the National Transitional Council that has now been recognised as Libya’s legitimate government – would benefit Maltese businessmen.

He added that these two decisions were the first step in Malta’s contribution to help Libya build a democratic country.