Tripoli, 7 December:
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan met with . . .[restrict]Maltese Prime Lawrence Gonzi in Tripoli today for talks on strengthening bilateral relations. It was the first time the two had met since Zeidan became prime minister last month. Gonzi was accompanied by his Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment Tonio Fenech.
Talks focused on a number of issues including the two countries’ dispute on the continental shelf, illegal migration from Libya to Europe via Malta and the unfreezing of Libyan assets held in Malta and the rest of the EU by the Qaddafi family and regime. There would be more talks on the latter issue, Gonzi said, inviting Libya to send a fact-finding team to Malta to pursue the matter.
“Malta is more than willing to make this process as fast as possible,” he said.
Cooperation on education was also discussed, in particular the role of the Maltese College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) in helping meet Libya educational needs.
Three months ago, MCAST was party to an MOU between Libya and Malta on technical and vocational training.
At a press conference following the meeting and lunch at Tripoli’s Mehari Raddison hotel, Gonzi said he hoped there could be an agreement on guaranteed oil supplies from Libya. For his part, Zeidan said Libya would do its best to reach agreement on the issue. [/restrict]
