The Libyan Foreign Minister has accepted to be the co-head of the Maltese-Libya mixed commission in the recent changes in the headship of such commissions, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told Parliament yesterday.
This is a signal honour for the only other joint commission the Libyan Foreign Minister has accepted to sit on is the Italian-Libyan joint commission.
Dr Frendo announced that he will be visiting Libya in July during which a number of pending issues will be discussed. He was urged by Labour MP Noel Farrugia to include the situation with regard to Maltese fishermen and Dr Frendo accepted to include this as part of the discussions.
The Maltese argument is that Maltese fishermen are not big fishermen at all, so they pose no threat to Libyan fishing rights, and that traditionally Maltese fishermen used to fish in the areas now declared to be no go areas by the Libyans.
Following the Foreign Minister’s reply on Monday regarding the visa issue, it was inevitable that questions regarding this issue be asked.
In this regard, it must be pointed out, and the minister yesterday reiterated: that the ministry carries out periodic reviews of the visa policy used in Libya to ensure the process remains as efficient as possible. It was for this reason that the recent review simplified the procedures that were brought into effect on 5 May 2004.
The minister yesterday insisted that Malta does not want any bureaucratic interference to hinder the movement of peoples.
For this reason as well, he and the Libyan ambassador in Malta have regular meetings to iron out any problems that may have arisen and the Libyan side then reciprocates. For many months now, the Maltese consular office in Tripoli has been issuing visas in four working days. As regards multiple entry visas applied for by Maltese nationals, Malta urges the Libyan side to reciprocate.
For this purpose too, the Maltese side has applied for a satellite link to the consular office in Tripoli so that applications for visas can be tackled even more quickly.
Petition regarding land in Mellieha
At the beginning of yesterday’s sitting, Nationalist MP Michael Gonzi presented a petition signed by 548 persons from Mellieha regarding land at Tal-Ibrag and Qortin ta’ Barra limits of Mellieha.
The petition states that following the Cabinet’s decision on the revision of development boundaries, Mepa interpreted the Cabinet memo to open up development in this area. But this area is one of environmental and archaeological value and must be kept free from development.