By Libya Herald reporter.
Tripoli, 4 May 2016:
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said that the Maltese embassy will only reopen in . . .[restrict]Tripoli when there is proper security in the city. He was speaking at a press conference at the Bu Setta naval base with Presidency Council head and prime minister-designate Faiez Serraj today during his visit to the Libyan capital.
Malta would probably be one of the first countries to reopen its embassy in Tripoli he suggested, but added that “we need to be confident that when the Maltese embassy in Tripoli reopens, our staff will be safe.”
Other than the reopening of the Maltese embassy plus the linked issue of restarting Air Malta flights to Tripoli, talks between Serraj and Muscat focused on illegal migration and the general security situation in Libya.
Illegal migration would be a priority in further discussions with Malta, Serraj said, speaking nervously at his first press conference with a foreign political leader. He added that Libya was trying hard to address the issue and that joint technical commissions would be set up between the two countries to deal with this and other matters.
The visit by Muscat, who was accompanied by Maltese Foreign Minister George Vella, was the first to the Presidency Council by a foreign prime minister. It was primarily intended, Muscat admitted, to send strong signals of support for the Government of National Accord ahead of it being sworn into office.
According to him, the joint technical commissions to be set up would deal with energy, illegal migration, fuel smuggling, security and bilateral business.
“The Libyan government is very eager to resume technical talks on these issues, and they consider the resumption of air links between the two countries as an important pre-requisite,” he said, but added that it results on many should not be expected immediately. [/restrict]
