Gaddafi to visit Malta

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has accepted an invitation to visit Malta, probably later this year, The Sunday Times has learnt.

The Maltese government has received a note verbale from the Libyan embassy confirming that Colonel Gaddafi had agreed to visit the island after more than 20 years.

Once regarded as a pariah by the West, Colonel Gaddafi began his return to the international fold after Libya settled the Lockerbie bombing claims and agreed to stop developing weapons of mass destruction. In the last year, Colonel Gaddafi has made new allies of the most unlikely of leaders.

But through good times and bad Libya found a most loyal friend in Malta. During the decades of international sanctions and global isolation, it was Malta which sometimes provided a lifeline to the North African state.

However, in the past few weeks, relations between the two neighbouring countries were lukewarm at best in the wake of the influx of illegal immigrants heading to the European mainland from Libyan ports and the declaration of a 64-mile exclusive fishing zone, which bars Maltese fishermen from traditional fishing grounds.

Just a fortnight ago, the Maltese government told Tripoli it was unable to take any more immigrants leaving from Libya.

Nevertheless, contacted yesterday, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo described the 63-year-old Libyan leader's upcoming visit as a "significant" confirmation of the strong relations between the two countries - especially considering Colonel Gaddafi's reluctance to travel.

The visit follows that of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to Tripoli last October.

The last time Colonel Gaddafi visited Malta was in 1984 when he was accompanied by a large delegation.

No dates have been set as yet, and the two governments would need to find a suitable date that would not coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.

Incidentally, Labour foreign affairs spokesman Leo Brincat last week criticised the government for failing to find the time to invite the Libyan leader and insisted on the need to put relations between the two countries on new foundations. But Dr Frendo said Mr Brincat was completely misinformed about the matter.

"Colonel Gaddafi's visit is very positive and ensures that our relations are kept at a multi-lateral level. It also confirms the deep and ongoing dynamic relationship," he said.

Dr Frendo admitted there were some pending issues which the two countries needed to discuss, but insisted there was a distinct improvement in the freedom of movement and business contacts between the two countries.

Malta and Libya relations went through a roller-coaster phase in the 1970s and early 1980s.

A low point was reached in the summer of 1980, when a Libyan gunboat stopped an Italian oil-drilling vessel, the Saipem II, which was drilling in disputed waters south of Malta - an action which then Prime Minister Dom Mintoff described as the "actions of the worst enemy".

But relations between the two leaders were often so close that they upset Western leaders.

When Malta obtained its independence from the UK in 1964, the first embassy it opened abroad was in Tripoli. A coup led by the young Colonel Gaddafi overthrew the Senussi monarchy on September 1, 1969.

When Mr Mintoff was returned to power in June, 1971, after 13 years, he made the most of his close friendship with the young Libyan leader, who wasted no time in ordering the closure of the US military bases in the country.

Colonel Gaddafi is the Arab world's longest-serving leader. A shrewd operator, he survived several attempts on his life, and reinvented Libya's system of government.