By Libya Herald reporter.
Malta, 5 February 2015:
Libya is ‘’on the verge’’ of becoming a failed state, Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat . . .[restrict]told German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday.
Muscat, reported the Maltese Times, said that instability in Libya risked opening the door for terrorists to get a foothold in Libya.
The Maltese Prime Minister, on an official visit to Germany, pushed for Libya to be higher on the EU agenda and sought Germany’s support for a UN peace keeping mission in Libya – if Libya made a request for one.
Merkel said that the risk of IS establishing itself in Libya was also a concern for Germany and that Germany would be ready to support any UN initiative in Libya. She admitted that more focus was required on issues that affected the Mediterranean rim.
It will be recalled that there have been public concerns that the troubles in Libya might spill over to the Maltese Islands, less than an hour’s flight from Tripoli. The concerns were increased following the recent terror attack on the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli.
There is also quite a sizable Libyan community in Malta – from both sides of the Libyan political divide.
Reports that the Maltese government has had danger threats or that it has increased its level of security have been strongly denied by Maltese authorities. However, members of the Maltese general public have expressed their anxiety to Libya Herald regarding the fear of such a spillover. [/restrict]
