Attempt at 'deception'

Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo yesterday accused the Labour Party's spokesman for foreign affairs, Leo Brincat, of trying to deceive people by saying that a recent visit by a Libyan delegation was "kept secret".

A meeting held last Monday between a Maltese and Libyan technical delegation was one of a number dealing with the issue of visas, the ministry said in a statement.

On Thursday, Mr Brincat said it was the government's duty to make such discussions known in the name of transparency.

The ministry said the meeting was a follow up to a visit made by Dr Frendo to Libya last July when he met Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Shalgam.

Dr Frendo said it was clear that Mr Brincat also missed a newspaper report, which actually delved into the meeting and which had comments by the minister himself.

Ministry sources said the next meeting to sort out the problem of visas is to be held in Libya. Visa requirements between the two countries came into force when Malta joined the EU on May 1.