Malta trade delegation for Libya

Gonzi attended a meeting in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development today with the social partners to talk on the Libyan situation.

He said it was his hope that the situation normalises with the National Transitional Council preparing to collect all the weapons in circulation, so that Air Malta can start its flights to Libya as soon as possible.

He told the social partners that while Libya is stabilising, people were still expecting and waiting for Col. Muammar Gaddafi to be firmly out of the scene.

Giving a brief overview of the meeting, Gonzi said he presented the Council with the developments of the last two weeks, including Malta’s decision to recognize the NTC as Libya’s official government and the outcome of the Paris Summit, where Malta insisted on the release of the Libyan frozen assets.

He said, Malta will continue to aid Libya and help provide the country with water, medicines and food. “We will do our utmost to help Libya in its quest to see the country stabilize itself,” he said, adding that this was also of “extraordinary interest” to Malta.

Gonzi also revealed that in the coming weeks a Maltese delegation, including entrepreneurs, will be visiting Tripoli and Benghazi: “But the priority right now remains letting NTC lead its country through this change.”

Gonzi added that Malta has already offered its expertise to Libya on how to operate airports and seaports in case the NTC required the help.

Asked what is going to happen to Maltese interests, such as contracts, signed with the previous government, Gonzi announced the setting up of the “Mixed Commission”, with the aim at discussing these issues.

Earlier: MCESD chairman Sonny Portelli told the press that caution was still advised until the situation gets back to normal, referring to the business opportunities that a Libyan reconstruction had to offer.

He said the Prime Minister had spoken openly and in detail with the Council, and that for now the MCESD will leave everything in government’s hands.

“We are aware of the opportunities in Libya but we have to remain cautious,” Portelli said.

Portelli did not elaborate further on the meeting, explaining that the meeting had been “confidential”.