US marine deployment provides grim backdrop to Libya forum

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke against a grim backdrop in a forum on post-war Libya today, at Floriana's Grand Hotel Excelsior, after US president Barack Obama deployed 200 marines following the murder of the US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens.

Gonzi said the conference was taking place in the shadow of the murder of Stevens, which took place less than 48 hours ago during an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

"These events took place almost simultaneously with the election of a new Prime Minister in Libya and it is very unfortunate. This is a lesson to be learnt and we have to follow closely with what is happening.

"There is still a lot of work to be done and must never forget to continue making the right choices to stay on the right side of history. We managed to come together at during the Libya crisis and this workshop will allow us to register how and why we managed to do that," Gonzi said.

The Prime Minister said that knowing this would allow Malta to be successfully overcome unforeseen circumstances in the future, including natural disasters "which may require us to work together".

In his speech, Gonzi paid tribute to his government's role in standing by the side of the Libyan people during their uprising against dictator Muammar Gaddafi - for decades a political neighbour successive administrations could not ignored.

"This is what the Libya crisis was in its essence - a cry for freedom of a people whose freedoms had been suppressed for over four decades. Today it is with a sense of pride that we can look back and say that Malta was on the right side of history...

"When the Libyans cried for help we were there standing side by side recognising the value of human life and alleviating suffering in all we did. For this and more I salute you and thank you for the role you played and the dedication you showed."