The Prime Minister met his Libyan counterpart Dr Shoukri Ghanem and also inaugurated the Maltese Consulate in Libya.
Giving comments to the press, following their meeting both Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction at the consensus achieved on priority of the illegal immigrants issue. They also discussed improvement of commercial relations and easier travel arrangements between the two countries.
Dr Ghanem said illegal immigration was a grave problem for Libya, not only from the humanitarian and health hazard perspective, but also because it strains the relationship with neighbouring countries. The visit includes a very tight schedule as the delegation is expected back today.
It is understood that the Prime Minister will be meeting Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi. However the meeting is not part of the official programme and could take place any time today.
In the present circumstances the visit
is particularly significant, Dr Gonzi emphasised before his departure, pointing out that this will be his first official visit to a country as Prime Minister and also that Libya was the present foreign affairs minister’s first official destination after his appointment.
“We will be going over many subjects with the Libyan authorities but the illegal immigrants issue will top the agenda,” he said. “The Libyan government is already concerned about this fact, just as we are, both because of the humanitarian aspect and because of the huge pressure that this problem is putting on our country.”
The government has already taken various initiatives and will continue to do so at a European and a bilateral level with the Italian and Libyan governments, he said, adding that Malta had lobbied heavily within the European structures for the sanctions imposed on Libya to be removed so that the Libyan government would be able to control its huge coast.
Dr Gonzi confirmed that the setting up of refugee centres in Libya was also on the agenda. In reference to recent reports that businessmen were finding it hard to obtain visas for Libya, Dr Gonzi said that they will be discussing ways to enhance, as much as possible, free movement of people between both countries.
Malta recognises the great strides that Libya has made in recent times and will be cooperating closely with the country to develop this process in the interests of Malta and the region at large, Dr Gonzi concluded.
The foreign affairs minister has recently mentioned that his ministry is placing particular focus on the developments in north Africa.
Particularly, Dr Frendo, at a business breakfast held recently, announced that he intended to enhance the Libyan embassy’s facilities on a par with those in London.