AFM commander holds talks in Libya

The Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Martin G. Xuereb today held talks in Libya with senior Libyan military officers and with Deputy Prime Minister Omar Abdel Karim.

Brigadier Xuereb was greeted by Admiral Hassan Ali Bushnak, Chief of Staff of the Libyan Navy and had talks at   the General Headquarters of the Libyan Armed Forces with Major General Yousif Elmangoush, the Libyan Chief of Defence, who reiterated Libya's gratitude to Malta for its assistance during the uprising. 

The government in a statement said the two sides discussed  various issues of mutual interest, notably the possibility that the AFM could train Libyan military personnel in maritime-related topics at the AFM’s Maritime Safety and Security Training Centre (MSSTC).

An AFM Mobile Training Team (MTT) would first go to Libya  to identify the most promising candidates for further in-depth training in Malta.

Today's talks also included illegal migration in the Central Mediterranean. 

Deputy Prime Minister Omar Abdel Karim said Libya wanted  to quickly establish professional, well-equipped and well-trained armed forces to ensure the continued protection of the Libyan people and Libyan constitution.

The Maltese delegation returned to Malta this afternoon.