[WATCH] Muscat says return of Maltese diplomats in Libya hinges on security conditions

Prime Minister heads the first delegation to Libya since GNA was set up • Video by Chris Mangion

The Government of National Accord's prime minister Fayez Mustafa al-Serraj is eager to see Air Malta flights operating once again to and fro Libya as well as the re-opening of the Maltese embassy in Tripoli.

Joseph Muscat is the first prime minister to visit Serraj in Libya on an official visit. The small delegation which travelled this morning to a naval base in Tripoli included foreign affairs minister George Vella and OPM chief of staff Keith Schemrbi, among other government officials.

This is the first meeting between the two leaders since the UN-backed government came into power.

The two leaders discussed a host of issues, with the main talking point being the reopening of the Maltese embassy in Libya.

Western countries pulled out of Libya in 2014 following the growing unrest in the country but the West is now backing a UN-brokered national unity government, which arrived in Tripoli from Tunisia last month and has been operating from a naval base as it seeks to establish its authority.

“I know there is a huge demand for the return of the Maltese diplomatic mission in Libya but there are some prerequisites, namely the safety and security of the diplomatic staff and establishing a clear system of how things will proceed,” Muscat said in a press conference following the meeting with Serraj.

Muscat said that his visit is a “show of support” on a European level, telling Serraj that “Malta and the EU stand with your government.”

On his part Serraj said that the two leaders also discussed migration, with the Libyan unity government head acknowledging the challenge faced by European countries.

“Libya is a country in transition but migration is one of our main priorities,” Serraj said.

Serraj also underlined the urgency of achieving peace and stability in the deeply divided country and augured the return of direct commercial flights to and from Malta and other European destinations.

Speaking to journalists on board the Medavia flight back to Malta, Muscat explained that the visit was a more "symbolic one" aimed at showing support to the UN-backed government.

"This was a mainly a political visit to send a strong message that we recognise the GNA as the country's representatives," Muscat said.

Although the swearing-in of Serraj's government has been repeatedly delayed, the Government of National Accord is internationally recognised as the de facto government.

"We were surprised to find that they were eager to resume discussions on a technical level," the Prime Minister said, adding that the Libyan side had also brought up the 2013 fuel agreement.

The Libyan delegation also suggested the setting up of technical commissions to look into the three main areas of cooperation between the two countries: migration, oil and trade.

The GNA is also pushing for the resumption of the air link between the two countries.

Muscat further explained that, although Libya wants to re-establish the diplomatic ties with Malta in diplomatic representation, Malta will first ensure that it is safe and stable for a diplomatic mission to be sent to the North African country.

The GNA itself is currently operating from a naval base and has so far taken over eight ministries.

The highest probability is that Malta will be the first EU country to reopen its embassy in Tripoli, resulting in increase pressure for the Mediterranean island in terms of visa issuance.

No military plans were discussed although the concern of the extremist presence in cities such as Sirte was raised.

On his part, the Libyan prime minister said that his government required the assistance and technical support of the European Union and the international community but not a military intervention.

The foreign affairs minister yesterday had a meeting with the US Ambassador to Libya Peter Bodde over recent developments in the North African country.

Malta has expressed its commitment to support the GNA. The international community, Vella said, cannot but extend its support to the GNA as the one viable option for durable stability of the country.

"The situation is more or less stabilised now, following the entry of Prime Minister Serraj into Tripoli last month," the ministry for foreign affairs yesterday said.

Addressing the revival of the country’s economy, security threats and an increasingly worrying humanitarian situation should be high on the Libyan Government’s agenda in the coming months.

An American-led coalition helped topple Gaddafi'a government in 2011, but lack of agreement between factions launched the country into a crisis allowing various militias and extremists to fill the void.

A slow and tedious process for a unity government ensued until a United Nations-backed government, headquartered in Tripoli, was formed last December through the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement.

Despite the full backing of the United Nations Security Council, the GNA still faces opponents, including leaders like General Khalifa Haftar and the General National Congress who wants to renegotiate a new political agreement.