Malta to ‘exchange’ frozen assets with aid to Libya Transitional Council

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg has committed further Maltese assistance to the Benghazi based Libyan Transitional Council, by promising an exchange in value of frozen Libyan assets by Malta with aid to Benghazi.

The proposal was tabled during meetings held by Tonio Borg in Benghazi where he met the councils’ leaders, including Mahmoud Jibril and the interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril.

Speaking on his return from Benghazi, Tonio Borg said that the Transitional Council has promised Malta all possible assistance in controlling the refugee migration towards Europe, however Benghazi has requested Malta to broker assistance from Europe to be able to monitor the borders.

Regarding the frozen assets, Tonio Borg explained that Malta is considering offering a credit line to the council and allowing it to repay the loans by using frozen assets in Malta belonging to the Gaddafi-led Libyan government.

Malta has also promised to increase its humanitarian assistance in the health sectorand by providing a number of scholarships for Libyan students.