MaltaMedia.com

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is due to visit Malta for the first time since the mid eighties this March according to Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa. The President of the Republic George Abela had extended an invitation to the Libyan leader during a state visit to Tripoli last September.

The announcement was made by Mr Kousa following the 26th session of the Maltese-Libyan Joint Commission that convened in Malta between the 18th and 20th of January in which a number of agreements were reached between Malta and Libya.

This Joint Commission was co-chaired by the Hon. Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta and His Excellency Mr Mousa Kousa, Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Co-operation of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Around 60 officials were involved during these three days of meetings in which various topics were tackled by the two governments. In the Fields of Medical Services and Public Health both sides agreed to exchange information on infectious diseases particularly the current problem of H1N1 pandemic; to explore areas of cooperation in training, including public health education and to exchange expertise in medical service provision.

The two countries agreed to collaborate in aquaculture activities. They will initiate direct contact between the respective hatcheries of ‘San Lucian’ Aquaculture Centre in Malta and ‘Farwa’ Aquaculture hatchery in Libya. This cooperation will include exchange visits for experts and/or technicians from both parties. Both sides will look into the possibilities of studying mutual marketing benefits for products from both hatcheries for Libya, Malta and/or any other country.

Oil exploration was also on the agenda. Government officials discussed the existing proposals and agreed that further discussions will take place on this issue at both technical and political levels. Both sides moreover agreed to continue with technical discussions through the Working Group, which has already been set up for this purpose, during the second half of April, 2010 in Malta.

With regards to education, an evaluation of the progress registered to date was made on co-operation in the field of education, including the provision of vocational training by MCAST in Libya. Both sides further agreed to continue pursuing these efforts and also to explore further areas of co-operation.

Thanks to the University of Malta, it was agreed to co-operate in the field of education and scientific research by setting up English courses and preparing trainers to teach the language. During the meeting it was also specified that the Institute of Tourism Studies will be ready to accept students from Libya to attend any of the courses being offered at the Institute. In this regard both sides agreed that English language is a prerequisite.

With regards to security and illegal migration, both sides agreed on the need to enhance co-operation in the fields of security and illegal immigration. Both Ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress made through the nomination of Libyan and Maltese liaison officers in relation to drug trafficking and organised crime. Malta and Libya agreed to set up a mechanism for the exchange of information and enhancement of co-operation in relation to economic crime and illegal immigration.

Regular meetings between the respective experts in the fields of security and illegal immigration with a view to improving the mechanisms of co-operation in these fields will be held.