Gonzi in Libya as Gaddafi ends diplomatic row with Switzerland

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was in Libya yesterday as the foreign ministers of Switzerland and Spain descended onto the North African country, in a bid to bring home the Swiss businessman stranded there for nearly two years, over a diplomatic row.

Swiss foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos held talks with Libyan officials to release Max Goeldi, the Swiss businessman at the centre of the dispute. He served four months in jail but had been barred from leaving Libya since July 2008.

Maltarightnow.com reported Gonzi was also in a meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, along with Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Gonzi said that Malta was quite instrumental for Libya to reach its agreement with Switzerland and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, who was also in Libya, had come up with proposals to help establish the agreement.

Gonzi and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg arrived in Libya at about 4 p.m. and were welcomed by Libyan Prime Minister Albaghdadi el Mahmoudi and Foreign Minister Koussa Moussa.

Goeldi was barred from leaving Libya days after Swiss police arrested a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on charges, later dropped, of abusing two domestic employees. Libyan officials deny any link between the two cases.

The row began with Switzerland’s arrest of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s son, Hannibal, and his wife in 2008 for allegedly beating their maid in a Swiss hotel. The incident prompted Libya to stop oil exports to Switzerland and withdraw assets from Swiss banks.

Muammar Gaddafi declared a “jihad” on Switzerland, although his officials said he had meant a trade embargo, not a holy war.

The row sucked in the European Union and the United States. Libya briefly barred entry to citizens of most European countries in retaliation for a Swiss travel ban on senior Libyans, including members of the Gaddafi family.

European countries are anxious to restore friendly relations with oil exporter Libya because they want to safeguard burgeoning business ties.

Amid the diplomatic fallout, Max Goeldi was one of two Swiss citizens convicted of violating residency laws in Libya. Amnesty International said Goeldi’s conviction was politically motivated.

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa says the Swiss government paid Hannibal Gadhafi $1.5 million in compensation for mistreatment during his arrest.

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said Goeldi “will leave Libya tonight.”