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EU cancels visa ban for Libyan citizens
Source: Xinhua |
March 28, 2010, Sunday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
THE European Union announced yesterday that it has abolished a blacklist of 188 Libyan citizens, including Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, from entering the Schengen passport-free zone of European countries.
According to a statement released by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds the presidency of the European Union, this action is taken at the request of Switzerland.
Moratinos released the statement on the sidelines of the 22nd Arab Summit currently held in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte.
He arrived here earlier yesterday in a bid to persuade Libya to lift visa restrictions on European citizens to end a spat between Libya and Switzerland that disrupted mobility between Libya and the EU nations.
The Libyan side so far has not officially responded to the EU's move.
The EU statement expressed regret for the troubles for the Libyan people that resulted from that procedure, saying the EU hopes that such disputes "will not repeat in the future."
The EU confirmed its willingness to maintain good relations with Libya and expectation to reach a framework agreement soon for cooperation, said the statement.
Switzerland launched a visa blacklist that included 188 Libyan figures amid a diplomatic row between the two countries last November.
Tension had been mounting between the two countries as Libya responded by suspending issuing entry visas to citizens from the Schengen area of 25 European countries, including Switzerland, after Libyan authorities detained two Swiss businessmen, one of whom was released last month.
EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton said she expected Libya, for its part, to free the other Swiss businessman, now serving a four-month jail term, and drop visa restrictions on Europeans.
According to a statement released by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds the presidency of the European Union, this action is taken at the request of Switzerland.
Moratinos released the statement on the sidelines of the 22nd Arab Summit currently held in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte.
He arrived here earlier yesterday in a bid to persuade Libya to lift visa restrictions on European citizens to end a spat between Libya and Switzerland that disrupted mobility between Libya and the EU nations.
The Libyan side so far has not officially responded to the EU's move.
The EU statement expressed regret for the troubles for the Libyan people that resulted from that procedure, saying the EU hopes that such disputes "will not repeat in the future."
The EU confirmed its willingness to maintain good relations with Libya and expectation to reach a framework agreement soon for cooperation, said the statement.
Switzerland launched a visa blacklist that included 188 Libyan figures amid a diplomatic row between the two countries last November.
Tension had been mounting between the two countries as Libya responded by suspending issuing entry visas to citizens from the Schengen area of 25 European countries, including Switzerland, after Libyan authorities detained two Swiss businessmen, one of whom was released last month.
EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton said she expected Libya, for its part, to free the other Swiss businessman, now serving a four-month jail term, and drop visa restrictions on Europeans.
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