Libya–Malta relations
Libya |
Malta |
---|
Libya-Malta relations are foreign relations between
History
Early relations (1964-1980)
During the
History books were published that began to spread the idea of a disconnection between the Italian and Catholic populations, and instead tried to promote the theory of closer cultural and ethnic ties with North Africa. This new development was noted by Boissevain in 1991:
...the Labour government broke off relations with NATO and sought links with the Arab world. After 900 years of being linked to Europe, Malta began to look southward. Muslims, still remembered in folklore for savage pirate attacks, were redefined as blood brothers.[8]
Gaddafi even claimed that the Maltese people were of Arab origin, through Phoenician descent.[9]
Between 1975 and 1976, the Libyan government gave Malta's 1st (Maritime) Battery of the Malta Land Force (now the Maritime Squadron of the AFM) four patrol boats.[10]
The Saipem incident (1980)
In 1980, an oil rig of the Italian company Saipem commissioned by Texaco to drill on behalf of the Maltese government 68 nautical miles south-east of Malta had to stop operations after being threatened by a Libyan gunboat. Both Malta and Libya claimed economic rights to the area and this incident raised tensions. The matter was referred to the International Court of Justice in 1982 but the court's ruling in 1985 dealt only with the delineation of a small part of the contested territory.[11][12]
Improving relations (1982-1987)
Malta and Libya had entered into a Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, in response to repeated overtures by
Nationalist governments to Libyan Civil War (1987-2011)
Following the termination of the Mintoff and Mifsud-Bonnici governments, Malta retained its excellent relations with Libya. Relations cooled in 2005 following the assassination in Malta of Fathi Shaqaqi, presumably by the Mossad, but relations were later normalised.
On 21 February 2011, in the beginning of the
On 11 March, one of Gaddafi's cousins attempted to bribe Maltese Air Force officials in order to purchase jet fuel.[17]
Post-Gaddafi era (2011-present)
Following the overthrow of Libya's
During the
On 27 January 2015,
A meeting between the leaders of the two rival governments of Libya was held at Auberge de Castille in Valletta, Malta on 16 December 2015. The meeting was delayed for a few days after the representatives from the Tobruk government initially failed to show up.[22][23]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Malta strikes favourable oil, gas procurement deal with Libya". Times of Malta. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ "Gaddafi to the Rescue", in Time Magazine (Monday, Jan. 17, 1972). Last viewed August 8, 2007.
- ^ "Our Sad Adieu", in Time Magazine (Monday, Apr. 09, 1979). Last viewed August 8, 2007.
- ISBN 9782826307112.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Planning Authority". Archived from the original on 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Jeremy Boissevain, "Ritual, Play, and Identity: Changing Patterns of Celebration in Maltese Villages," in Journal of Mediterranean Studies, Vol.1 (1), 1991:87-100 at 88.
- ^ "Gaddafi qal hekk fuq Malta". Is-Sejħa Tal-Ħbiberija (in Maltese). Vol. 1, no. 4. October 1980.
- ^ "Maritime Squadron Armed Forces of Malta". Steno.webs.com. March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "MaltaToday". archive.maltatoday.com.mt. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ "Cour internationale de Justice - International Court of Justice". Icj-cij.org. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- )
- ^ Hanspeter Mattes, "Aspekte der libyschen Außeninvestitionspolitik 1972-1985 (Fallbeispiel Malta)," Mitteilungen des Deutschen Orient-Instituts, No. 26 (Hamburg: 1985), at 88-126; 142-161.
- ^ "Updated: Libyan fighter jets arrive in Malta". Times of Malta. 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ Peregin, Christian (22 February 2011). "Two Libyan fighter pilots defect to Malta". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Caruana, Claire (25 June 2016). "Gaddafi relatives offered Malta Armed Forces bribes – Clinton ally". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016.
- ^ "Malta interfering in Libya's affairs - charge d'affaires". Times of Malta. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ "Libyan Embassy says visas issued by any other entity 'not valid'". Times of Malta. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ "Malta should press EU to intervene in Libya - Simon Busuttil". Times of Malta. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Micallef, Keith (15 February 2015). "Prime Minister calls for UN intervention in Libya". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ Grech, Herman (12 December 2015). "Top level Libya rivals meeting in Malta cancelled at last minute". Times of Malta. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ "Heads of rival Libyan parliaments meet in Malta, seek more time for unity government". Times of Malta. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.