Watch: Diplomatic incident does not affect Malta-Libya relations, minister says
Byron Camilleri was part of EU-organised delegation that was immediately ordered to leave eastern Libya.
Relations between Malta and Libya remain cordial despite a diplomatic incident that saw an EU-organised delegation being ordered to leave the country, Byron Camilleri said.
The Home Affairs Minister was among a delegation of three EU ministers ordered to leave eastern Libya immediately on Tuesday after they arrived in Benghazi for planned talks.
The group, which also included the EU's commissioner for internal affairs, Magnus Brunner, as well as ministers from Italy and Greece, had flown in from Tripoli, where they held talks with the UN-backed Government of National Unity.
Speaking to Times of Malta on Thursday, Camilleri said the delegation had just emerged from their plane when the issue emerged.
“I was not involved in the discussion, but from what I gather, there was an issue of protocol between representatives from the EU embassy in Libya and the Libyan authorities. Following the disagreement, it was decided that the meeting would be cancelled,” Camilleri said, without elaborating further.
AFP reported that straight after the EU delegation arrived in Benghazi, the head of the eastern administration, Osama Hammad, declared all four men persona non grata.
He called on all diplomats and representatives of non-governmental organisations to "respect the sovereignty of the Libyan state".
Camilleri stressed that the incident had no bearing on relations between the two countries.
“We have a strong relationship with our neighbour that is not just on paper. When there were the floods in Derna, Malta was among the first countries to offer assistance, a gesture that was greatly appreciated,” he said.
“We will continue working together, whether that is in the area of security or other areas to achieve concrete results for our countries,” he said.
Last year, Camilleri held talks in Benghazi with Khalifa Haftar, the de facto leader of the government of the eastern part of Libya.
The EU delegation was in Libya this week for talks about illegal migration with the UN-backed Government of National Unity.