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Roundup: Migration issue dominates talks of leaders of Malta, Libya

Xinhua, December 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

The migration issue topped the talks here on Wednesday between Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj who was on a state visit to Malta.

In a meeting with Muscat, Fayez Al-Sarraj said that he hoped for unity in his country.

After the meeting, he said, "I take this opportunity to send a message to my Libyan fellows, parties and partners: we should put our disputes aside and work together on our common enemy, which is terrorism."

Muscat said that when Malta takes on the presidency of the Council of the EU, the situation in the central Mediterranean will feature prominently on the EU's agenda.

He confirmed, "We have found a lot of common ground and good will from Fayez Al-Sarraj's government and look forward to not only improve our excellent bilateral relationship, but also to ensure that our European peers appreciate the situation in Libya."

Muscat also spoke about Malta's agreements with Libya, and said that once the political circumstances allowed it, the Maltese embassy in Tripoli will be re-staffed and such agreements will be honoured.

He added that Malta would strive to put the situation of the central Mediterranean, which includes Libya, as one of the EU's priorities when it comes to foreign policy, migration and security.

However he went on to say that talks should not purely focus on migration, but also on security, economic development and border control, and Malta looks forward to improve the relations with Libya.

Fayez Al-Sarraj is hopeful Malta can play an important supportive role in managing his country's current political challenges.

"Malta has been and will be playing a role in finding ways to communicate with the various parties in Libya to reach consensus." he said. Endit