Update 2 - Migration and terrorism topped talks held in Valletta this morning between the president of the Libyan presidential council, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
“I take this opportunity to send a message to my Libyan fellows, parties and partners: we should put our disputes aside and work together on our common cause, which is terrorism,” the Libyan prime minister said after the meeting.
Dr Muscat said that as president of the EU council, Malta will make sure that the situation in the Central Mediterranean features prominently on the EU's agenda.
He said the talks should not be just about migration, but also about security, border control and economic development.
"We have found a lot of common ground and good will from Fayez al-Sarraj’s government and look forward to not only improve our excellent bilateral relationship, but also to ensure that our European peers appreciate the situation in Libya," he said.
Mr Sarraj commented that Malta can play an important role in helping Libya manage the political challenges it is facing.
Asked about Malta’s agreements with Libya, Dr Muscat commented that these will be honoured once the political circumstances allowed for their implementation.
Malta will be one of the first countries to re-staff its embassy in Tripoli, once security provisions allow the country to re-establish its diplomatic representation there, Dr Muscat noted.
The Libyan prime minister's visit comes as the new UN-recognised government works to establish itself in Libya and with Libya on the brink of ousting IS forces from its territory.
It also comes weeks before Malta takes over the presidency of the EU Council and as the EU struggles to handle an influx of migrants who leave from Libya.
Mr Sarraj insisted that his government was reaching out to all parties in Libya in order to reach consensus, and it believed that the Libyan political agreement was the starting point.
“We are against any escalation and we feel that the proper way out of this is through the political agreement.”
Dr Muscat meanwhile noted that like the rest of the international community, Malta recognised Mr Sarraj’s government.
“Our role is to see that wherever we might have influence, we it to let it be known that there is space for everyone within this political agreement.
“It is up to the Libyans to decide what role they want for General [Khalifa] Haftar and the army. We appreciate the argument that there should be civil oversight of military personnel. It’s up to the Libyans to decide the structure they want,” Dr Muscat added.
Dr Muscat reiterated that an important test for Malta would be to put the situation of the Central Mediterranean, which includes Libya, as one of the EU’s priorities when it comes to foreign policy, migration and security.
Mr Sarraj said Libya looked forward to seeing Malta taking the lead role during the presidency, and relay the North African country’s message to its EU peers.
“Malta has been and will be playing a role in finding ways to communicate with the various parties in Libya to reach consensus.”