Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday welcomed the Opposition’s call for a National Audit Office investigation into the issuing of visas from the Maltese consulate in Algeria, saying he hoped this would put an end to the “damaging” allegations.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an official visit to the Algerian capital, Dr Muscat yesterday said he had discussed the matter with the Algerian government, which had “laughed off” claims of wrongdoing.
Just under 7,000 visas were issued from the consulate between March 2014 and September 2015, prompting allegations that applicants were asked to pay extra fees to speed up the process.
“The Algerian government is aware of the allegations being made. We asked them specifically if they knew of any information and they told us they did not,” Dr Muscat said.
We asked them specifically if they knew of any information and they told us they did not
He added that the Algerian government had already held inquiries and had not come up with anything to suggest foul play. Despite this, Dr Muscat said he had made another request for the Algerian authorities to “recheck everything”.
Dr Muscat is heading a trade delegation in Algiers aimed at pairing Maltese businesses with potential Algerian partners, as well as looking into the possibility of a number of energy solutions in partnership with the Algerian government.
Asked if he felt the allegations were damaging business relations with Algeria, Dr Muscat said they damaged the island’s reputation in general.
“Honestly, if the Opposition has something to report, it should do so,” he said, adding that he hoped the NAO report would put an end to the allegations.
Asked about media reports that his cousin had headed the consulate during the period the visas were issued, Dr Muscat said the man was his father’s cousin.
He had been appointed by the previous administration but Dr Muscat insisted he would not defend him if he were found to have acted incorrectly.
He said he had not spoken to him nor did he know whether the police had contacted him.