Libyan ambassador Saadum Suayeh said this morning that his embassy had been given no policies yet on the granting of visas for people to visit his country.

Speaking at the Times to Debate conference on Libya, the ambassador said that previously, applicants produced an invitation to visit Libya, and a visa was issued - sometimes within 24 hours. 

Now, with a large Maltese business and political delegation planning to visit Libya, he had been granted authorisation to use his own discretion to issue visas.  

"I hope we will have policy set up soon, please bear with us," the ambassador said.

Dr Gonzi said Malta never officially closed its embassy in Tripoli, but the offices were reactivated last week. During the uprising, the processing of visa applications was   transferred to Tunis. The process is now being handled in Tripoli once more. He said the governemnt was discussing an upgrade of the Malta Enterprise office in Tripoli to the highest level possible.

At the same time, Malta will continue to have a diplomatic/commercial presence in Benghazi.

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