Labour wants simpler Libyan visa framework
A Labour government would work on four priority areas to foster better relations with Libya, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.
He was addressing an audience of Maltese, Libyan and foreign businessmen at the New Libya Forum, a two-day conference that started yesterday.
Dr Muscat said a Labour government would simplify the issuing of visas for Libyans wanting to travel to Malta, to send the message that Libyans were welcome in Malta.
Other priorities include: setting up a financial vehicle that would enable resreach between the University of Malta and Libyan institutes in areas such as renewable energy, provide assistance to help Libya build its human resources capacity in education and healthcare and set up a proper business centre in Tripoli offering services and resources for Maltese wanting to do business in Libya.
The conference is organised by Maltese consultancy firm EMCS and audit firm Deloitte. It will end today.
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21 Comments
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John Zammit
Feb 28th 2012, 13:44
I am afraid whit your contributions against the Libyan people you are Not hurting Labour but those who have investment and those who want to work in Libya.I am sure the Prime Minister will not agree with most of you.Is this the solidarity you speak about or that talk was only said when there was a chance of earning some popularity for the Gonzi PN
D Bonello
Feb 28th 2012, 13:42
No thank you Joseph Muscat........What are you thinking off?
Pawlu Cauchi
Feb 28th 2012, 12:13
Prosit Dr. Muscat, Libyans can collect their Maltese visa on arrival at the airport. This is priority number one as this will reciprocate and Maltese will have same treatment when visiting Libya.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 28th 2012, 12:02
Can Joseph explain to us why Libyans should be more welcomed then Syrians? Algerians? Tunisians? Egyptians? Nigerians? Turks? Palestinians? Etc. etc. etc.?? What’s the logic behind this twisted idea? Is it maybe that Our dear and beloved Joseph – knowing there is a large Libyan community on the Island - is trying once more buy sympathy buy once more speaking out loud all the rubbish that passes through his mind?
j brincat
Feb 28th 2012, 11:29
@Manuel Camilleri
"Mela, mhux hekk Joe. Labour sold the nation's soul to Gaddafi for money"
Remember that it was Dr Gonzi who was the last European dignitary to hug the Colonel. And EFA, like Mintoff, honoured him with a medal too!
Also, perhaps it might have escaped you, the PN has been in power for the last 25 years and Gaddafi was only disposed off a few months ago. So, the PN had nearly a quarter of century 'to buy back our soul' from Gaddafi' But, did they? Everybody remembers how they relished to take photos with him!
Is it possible that you have already forgotten all this?
So really, I don't know who sold the nation's soul.
(jb)
J.C. Borg
Feb 28th 2012, 11:50
@ j. brincat - "Remember that it was Dr Gonzi who was the last European dignitary to hug the Colonel. And EFA, like Mintoff, honoured him with a medal too!"
What has this to do with the subject in discussion??
Libyans are welcome to Malta, but not a wide open door to ANYONE, whoever they are.
We have to watch what everyone, in politics, say.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 28th 2012, 11:55
Yep, but j brincat; Labour did business with Gaddafi was a recognized terrorist by all the world, PN did business with Gaddafi when this started to have "friendly" relations with all the world...
Do not try to distort history just because labour will forever and ever be remembered in a bad light!
Marco Galea
Feb 28th 2012, 12:22
"Remember that it was Dr Gonzi who was the last European dignitary to hug the Colonel. "
REALLY? REALLY? You might have missed your party's news bulletin showing Joseph Muscat being given prominence in Libya's news when he met the Colonel who sent him A PRIVATE JET to use it for the journey!
Pat Hobson
Feb 28th 2012, 12:36
@Joseph Brincat. You're right and the PN government under EFA knew this and continued doing business with Gaddafi, so much so that he was Given Gieh ir-Repubblika. You are distorting history by telling half-truths.
A Cuschieri
Feb 28th 2012, 12:41
@ j brincat
you seem to be forgetting that Muscat's first visit abroad as PL leader was to Libya - where he officially invited Gaddafi to come to Malta.
Kleaven Maniscalco
Feb 28th 2012, 19:25
J Brincat there is a big difference between having a good commercial relationship with a country that had loads of money and calling Gaddafi our brother in blood. It is different when Gaddafi was invited to Malta for reasons other then commercial benefit. That showed that Labour was approving what Gaddafi was doing. In fact he approved it so much that he decided to adopt it even in Malta to some extent. And how about Gaddafi giving Labour money to help in interrupting the 1989 American and Russian Leaders visit? Why didn't he give the money directly to the nationalist government not to accept the visit......You were saying EFA and Gaddafi were close.....how come EFA didn't do him this favour?
Mr Joseph Vella
Feb 28th 2012, 11:28
Tal biza l-mentalita fqira li ghandkom. He discussed business and yes there's potential for economic benefits for our country. We should make the most of our strategic position if we want our economy to grow
John Scerri
Feb 28th 2012, 13:00
You could have cut a better figure if you left out comments like '........Tal biza l-mentalita fqira li ghandkom'
Diversity of opinions does not mean poor mentality. So is your mentality so rich? Will you share it with us?
John Scerri
Feb 28th 2012, 11:24
Dr Muscat said a Labour government would simplify the issuing of visas for Libyans wanting to travel to Malta, to send the message that Libyans were welcome in Malta.
Is that the scope and aim of issuing a visa?.....to show that libyans were welcome in Malta?
Till today my understanding of the need to issue a visa was for a totally different aim.
You always learn no matter how old you are !!!!
j brincat
Feb 28th 2012, 11:17
@S Portelli
"Joseph, are you going to give it to Gaddafi's friends or to the suffering libyan friends"
What a pathetic statement?
(jb)
Mr joseph formosa
Feb 28th 2012, 11:16
here we go mintoff born again, mr muscat want to let libyans to take malta over again like few years ago,all you see is people with pyjamas running in our steerts and prostitution,this man is going mad ,mr muscat let's build them another mosque too
S Portelli
Feb 28th 2012, 10:49
Joseph, are you going to give it to Gaddafi's friends or to the suffering libyan friends
Manuel Camilleri
Feb 28th 2012, 10:40
Mela, mhux hekk Joe. Labour sold the nation's soul to Gaddafi for money, and now Joseph is opening the door to them. Oh, by the way, where were you during the Libyan conflict? ah yes, sitting on the fence.
J.C. Borg
Feb 28th 2012, 11:12
Kull kelma li tohrog min halqu turi kemm hu immatur. Povra Malta jekk tigi taht idejh.
Robert Henry Bugeja
Feb 28th 2012, 12:41
...Povra Malta li giet mnezza min kull rizors li kellha biex mliet zaqq dawk qrib il partit Nazzjonalista ghal 24 sena li ghaffeg id dinjita tal haddiem Malti ghas skapitu ta l-interess partiggan tieghu. Tal Misthija. Anqas tafu xi tfisser Interess nazzjonali ghax l'aqwa li blajtu kollox inthom u familtkom!!!
Biex taqilhu balla flus mill Libya u min fuq dahar il Libjani okay, izda biex taccettahom bhala poplu mhemmx cans ja qatta razzisti u ipokriti bil Pedigree!!!
Willliam G
Feb 28th 2012, 10:31
Go tell it to the Marines !!
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