The Maltese government is ready to ship the 1.2 billion dinars currently held in Malta to be used for "the good and wellbeing of the Libyan people who have endured so much suffering over the years," Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo has said.
Back in 2019, the cash was confiscated in transit on its way to Libya, which was in the middle of a conflict at the time. The money had been found stored inside two containers and was believed to be destined for the forces commanded by General Khalifa Haftar, who at that time was laying siege to the Libyan capital.
The announcement was made during a working visit to the Russian Federation, where Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In Sochi, the two sides discussed a wide array of topics of bilateral, regional and international importance. Among other things, the two sides also had a positive exchange of views on Libya, with Minister Bartolo reiterating Malta's belief in a free, united Libya run by Libyans.
In a press statement following the meeting, Minister Bartolo described the talks as very cordial and respectful. He stressed that whatever the differences between nations, if there is the will to safeguard the future of this planet, we must keep talking to eachother and have honest and frank conversations.
In this context, Minister Bartolo welcomed the news of an upcoming summit between the USA and Russia and the prospect of normalising relations between the two states. He added that the same can be done between the EU and Russia as long as there is good will and respect from both sides.
Minister Bartolo stressed that respect for international law remains crucial for Malta, and that such relations must always be within this framework.
From a bilateral perspective, Minister Bartolo said that Malta is very happy with the steadily improving ties in trade and tourism between the two countries, although more needs to be done. In this regard, he announced that in the coming weeks Malta and Russia will sign new MoUs in the fields of sport, culture and health.
Minister Bartolo held that cooperation with Russia is also strong in the fight against international organized crime and the financing of terrorism.
Referring to the Middle East conflict, Minister Bartolo explained that Malta and Russia are on the same page and that the ceasefire alone will not resolve this tragic issue. In this context, he called for a lasting solution through which Israelis and Palestinians live next to each other, in security and peace and, above all, enjoying equal rights.
Minister Bartolo concluded that Malta is also happy to work with Russia in the fight against all forms of intolerance. He also stressed that if we want to learn from history, we must also make sure to set the record straight on WWII and to recognize the very important role that Russia played in the victory over Nazism which put the rest of humanity at risk.