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Interview: Malta still optimistic about political solution for Libya Crisis: former PM

Xinhua, March 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Malta's former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi emphasized that the Maltese government didn't lose its optimism to see a political solution eventually coming out from the Libya crisis.

He described the assurance the incumbent Minister for Economy, Investment and Small Business made last week to help Maltese businesses based in Libya to enlarge business scopes in other African countries as "a good initiative."

"It indicates that the Maltese government will continue to support the businessmen for them to continue to be successful," Gonzi said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Friday.

Dr. Gonzi, who was Maltese Prime Minister between 2004 and 2013, noted that the UN-sponsored dialogue, which is aimed at bringing together Libyan parties and political activists in an attempt to put an end to the four-year civil war in Libya, and the Special Envoy of the United Nations to Libya Bernardino Leon's mission are "the best scenario to overcome the crisis."

"It is not easy, of course it is complicated, but recent history in the whole region, not just in Libya, but in Syria, and also in other regions of North African continent, clearly indicate that military force, violence, terrorism, the death of innocent citizens will not get any solution, and it will only make matters worse," he said.

Gonzi also advised the international community to be "brokers for peace" to positively influence and encourage all the different groups and factions in Libya to sit around the table and cooperate with Leon as well as the United Nations.

Gonzi elaborated that all the security council member states and the rest of the United Nations need to encourage not only the very top of the pyramid, but also the leaders at the level of towns and villages, all of them to understand this is the crucial stage in developing Libya's restoration and Libya's history, that they have responsibility toward their own citizens and their future generations.

Gonzi pointed out that Malta strives to see the Mediterranean region peaceful, stable, and Libya is a crucial part of this. Therefore, what happens in Libya is crucial.

He reiterated that "we wish to see the Libyan people achieve what they deserve." Endit