The Maltese government felt reasonably reassured there is a possibility of direct flights between Malta and Kuwait being introduced in the medium to long term, government sources told this paper last night.

This development must await the outcome of a privatisation process for Kuwait Airlines but the Kuwaiti government was very positive about the idea, the sources said.

Equally, the Kuwaiti government was felt to be more positive than the other governments of the Gulf as regards allowing visa clearance to be done at the airport. This could solve an intractable problem which affects all would-be travellers to Malta from the Gulf.

Three separate agreements were signed by the two sides yesterday including one for a regular meeting of a joint commission every two years to monitor relations between the two countries and an agreement promoting further cooperation in the medical field.

Malta and Kuwait have a long history of close relations in the medical sector, ever since Prof. Frederick Fenech set up a medical university in Kuwait, which relationship is strengthened by the presence of many Kuwaiti students studying medicine at the university.