Gonzi and Libya’s Tarhouni augur that Malta-Libya friendship intensifies

Both Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Libya's National Centrist Party Ali Tarhouni waxed lyrical about the friendship between Malta and Libya during a brief meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Gonzi welcomed Tarhouni during a visit that Gonzi described as the fruit of the collaboration that went on between Malta and Libya during the Libyan crisis two years ago.

Indeed, Gonzi said, the friendship was rooted in the assistance provided to Libya by Malta when the country needed it most, and also in the aftermath, when Libya is rebuilding.

Tarhouni thanked both Gonzi and Malta for the assistance that was provided to Libya and its people during its time of need, and augured that this would persist.

Tarhouni also congratulated Gonzi on his outgoing administration, as well as his ongoing electoral campaign.

"I hope friends will not forget each other because friends come when you need help," he said, adding that Malta and Libya have historically always been close.

He said that now that Libya is rebuilding its infrastructure and settling down, it would be time to look towards establishing a strong strategic between the two countries.

Earlier, Tarhouni visited Labour leader Joseph Muscat, with whom he discussed the energy, maritime and education sectors.