Libyan PM, cabinet ministers in Malta for official visit

A 15-strong men Libyan delegation led by Prime Minister Abdullah al Thinni is in Malta for an official state visit. This is the first official visit by the Libyan Prime Minister to a European country.

Al Thinni is accompanied by his deputy prime minister Abdel Salam al-Badri, Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed Al Dayri, Economy Minister Manbar Asr, Education Minister Fathi al Magbari and Information Minister Omar Alqoira.

The delegation includes Al Thinni’s chief of staff and advisors.

All Maltese media houses were briefed on the visit on Monday morning by the chief of staff at the Office of the Prime Minister, Keith Schembri, and head of government communication Kurt Farrugia.

On his part, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat personally communicated the news to Opposition leader Simon Busuttil on Sunday evening via a telephone call.

Al Thinni’s visit to Malta – expected to last between 48 to 72 hours – prompted heightened security and news of his travel to Malta could only be released once security was cleared and in Maltese airspace.

The Libyan Premier’s visit to Malta is rumoured to have generated interest among circles in the European Union, which has been informally informed of his visit. The US embassy was not immediately informed of the delegation's visit.

“Official information of Al Thinni’s planned visit to Malta was received on Sunday,” Schembri said, adding that the Libyan government had lately shown interest in coming to Malta on several occasions.

Although no specific details have yet emerged on what the delegation will be discussing with its Maltese counterparts, it is understood that Libya wants Malta to push its plight among the European Union.

“Libya wants Malta to be its official voice in the European Union. Al Thinni’s government wants stability but it needs all to support it can get to do this,” Schembri said.

Al Thinni's internationally recognised government was booted out of Tripoli in August, when a coalition of armed groups from the western city of Misrata stormed the city. Al Thinni’s government was forced to withdraw to the east, basing itself in Tobruk.

Fleeing from hostile militias, the parliament elected in June set up base in a grey concrete 1970s hotel near the Egyptian border.

The legal government was even forced to hire a Greek car ferry which moored in Tobruk harbour to house officials, activists and their families. They had fled death-threats in their hometowns.

Among international fora, including the United Nations, Malta insisted that peace in Libya will not be attained unless unconditional disarmament and genuine national reconciliation among the different factions take place.

Prime Minister Muscat on several occasions called on the UN to play its part for security to be reinstated in Libya: “The UN must be ready to offer its help and bring together the different factions around one table and give the legitimate armed forces the necessary resources.”

The United States, France, Italy, Germany and Britain called for an end to the violence in Libya, agreeing there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis.

Dozens of people have been killed in Benghazi in days of violence between the Dawn of Libya, an alliance of militias fighting for an Islamist group that has declared a rival government in Tripoli, and pro-government forces led by former General Khalifa Haftar.

The joint statement voiced concern over Haftar's offensive and said Libya's "fight against terrorist organisations can only be sustainably addressed by regular armed forces under the control of a central authority".

Haftar has called on civilians to join his forces, that have attacked militias in western town of Kikla in addition to Benghazi in the east.

Civilians have been caught up in the fighting and supplies are running low in areas hit by violence. The UN has proposed a four-day ceasefire in Kikla to allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance

The US and its four European allies also condemned Ansar al-Sharia, a member of Dawn of Libya, and said "Libya's hard-fought freedom is at risk if Libyan and international terrorist groups are allowed to use Libya as a safe haven".