Libya "concerned" over impact of Malta's EU membership

Libya was concerned about whether Malta's EU membership would have an impact on the significant relations that existed between the two countries, the Libyan secretary for foreign liaison and international cooperation, Abdulrahman Mohamed Shalgam, said yesterday.

The relationship between Malta and Libya was a very special one that made for continuous cooperation.

Such a relationship may not even exist between Libya and other countries, he said.

Dr Shalgam was answering questions by reporters at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Joe Borg at the foreign office in Valletta.

Dr Shalgam is on an official two-day visit. Today he will be meeting President Guido de Marco. Yesterday, he called on Opposition leader Alfred Sant, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and Finance Minister John Dalli.

Dr Shalgam discussed the setting up of a Libyan bank here, Libyan investment in Malta, the construction of a gas pipeline between Libya and Italy, and how Malta could get its gas requirements through the pipeline for the island's power stations.

Asked how he saw Malta being affected by EU membership, Dr Shalgam said that the first level of relationship between Malta and Libya was not an economic one.

"The relationship is a very historic one and it is in terms of neighbourhood relations," he said.

Libya had strong economic relations with several EU member states, chief among them Italy. Libyan investment in Italy last year reached $8 billion and was expected to go up to $10 billion in two years' time.

He said that it would be up to the Maltese people to decide on the EU membership issue in a referendum.

Dr Borg said that Malta's role was to provide stability and security in the Mediterranean.

Malta would bring to the EU an added Mediterranean dimension as the focus of the EU was moving eastwards with more central and eastern European countries wanting to join.

"In this way, while Malta will be looking after its own interests, it will also be working in the interest of Arab countries."

How did Libya view Malta's introduction of visas for Libyan citizens once Malta joined the EU?

Dr Shalgam said the issue of visas concerned Malta more than it concerned Libya. Last year, he said, about 30,000 Libyans visited Malta.

"It would be better for us not to have such a large number of people leaving Libya, thus saving on foreign exchange. But it would not be in Malta's interest for the number of Libyan visitors to go down.

"Libyans would prefer to travel instead to Egypt, Lebanon and Syria and other countries that do not impose visas," he said.

Asked whether Libya would be constrained to impose visas on Maltese citizens, Dr Shalgam said Libya considered Maltese citizens equal to Libyan citizens and at times were even given priority over Arab citizens.

There were Maltese working in Libya and setting up companies and tendering for contracts.