By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Friday, January 22, 2010
TRIPOLI: Libya plans to tighten its visa rules for citizens of some European countries in retaliation for its own citizens being denied European visas, a senior official said on Thursday.
The move – which he said would come into force “in a few days” – comes amid continued fallout after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s son and wife were arrested in Switzerland in 2008.
The official said the stricter rules would apply to citizens of European countries that are part of the Schengen pact, which allows travelers to obtain a single visa that is good for travel to 24 European states.
Tripoli “will harden conditions for granting visas to businessmen, the executives of European companies operating in Libya and citizens of certain other nations,” the official told Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity.
He said that the measures were being taken because most of all Libyan applications for visas to Schengen area states are turned down.
In November, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim noted that most Libyan applications for Schengen visas were rejected, and threatened similar action against citizens of some Schengen states.
The visa wars began after Hannibal Gadhafi and his pregnant wife Aline were arrested at a luxury Geneva hotel in early July 2008.
They were detained after complaints from two servants, a Moroccan and a Tunisian, who alleged they had been mistreated by the couple.
The Gadhafis were freed on bail after two days in custody, and the complaint filed against them was dropped after a lawyer said the servants had received compensation.
But the incident sparked outrage from the Gadhafi family. It led to a freeze on Swiss business, the withdrawal of Libyan assets from Swiss banks and disruption to oil deliveries.
In turn, Bern adopted a restrictive policy of Schengen visas to Libyan officials.
Two Swiss businessmen were also prevented from leaving Libya. Currently holed up at the Swiss Embassy, they are accused of illegal business activities, having been caught up in the diplomatic row.
Source: The Daily Star.
Link: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=110950.
Friday, January 22, 2010
TRIPOLI: Libya plans to tighten its visa rules for citizens of some European countries in retaliation for its own citizens being denied European visas, a senior official said on Thursday.
The move – which he said would come into force “in a few days” – comes amid continued fallout after Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s son and wife were arrested in Switzerland in 2008.
The official said the stricter rules would apply to citizens of European countries that are part of the Schengen pact, which allows travelers to obtain a single visa that is good for travel to 24 European states.
Tripoli “will harden conditions for granting visas to businessmen, the executives of European companies operating in Libya and citizens of certain other nations,” the official told Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity.
He said that the measures were being taken because most of all Libyan applications for visas to Schengen area states are turned down.
In November, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim noted that most Libyan applications for Schengen visas were rejected, and threatened similar action against citizens of some Schengen states.
The visa wars began after Hannibal Gadhafi and his pregnant wife Aline were arrested at a luxury Geneva hotel in early July 2008.
They were detained after complaints from two servants, a Moroccan and a Tunisian, who alleged they had been mistreated by the couple.
The Gadhafis were freed on bail after two days in custody, and the complaint filed against them was dropped after a lawyer said the servants had received compensation.
But the incident sparked outrage from the Gadhafi family. It led to a freeze on Swiss business, the withdrawal of Libyan assets from Swiss banks and disruption to oil deliveries.
In turn, Bern adopted a restrictive policy of Schengen visas to Libyan officials.
Two Swiss businessmen were also prevented from leaving Libya. Currently holed up at the Swiss Embassy, they are accused of illegal business activities, having been caught up in the diplomatic row.
Source: The Daily Star.
Link: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=110950.
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