Libya suspends visas to Europeans
LIBYA: Libya has stopped issuing entry visas to citizens of most
European countries, officials said on Monday, in an apparent escalation
of its diplomatic row with Switzerland.
The visa suspension emerged a day after a Libyan newspaper reported
that the North African country would take “severe measures” in response
to Switzerland drawing up a visa blacklist that included Libyan leader
Muammar Gaddafi and his family.
Oil exporter Libya has been attracting growing foreign investment
since it emerged from decades of international isolation and the visa
move could harm its business reputation, though one analyst said the
suspension would be short-lived.
A notice on France’s Foreign Ministry website said Libya had
suspended visas for the Schengen area — 25 European countries, including
some which, like Switzerland, are not in the European Union. EU members
Britain, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus are not in Schengen.
A spokesman for Italy’s Foreign Ministry said Libya had suspended
visas in response to the Swiss restrictions. “Contacts are under way
between the countries of the zone to coordinate over this measure,” a
ministry spokesman said.
“Libya’s unilateral step is regrettable,” a German foreign ministry
spokesman said. “We expect it to be repealed.” The ministry website said
previously issued visas were now invalid and that only people with
residency permits could enter Libya. Asked by Reuters to confirm reports
of the suspension, an official at Libya’s main international airport,
who did not want to be identified, said: “This is right. This decision
has been taken. No visas for Europeans, except Britain.”
No explanation was given for the suspension, and there was no
official confirmation from the Libyan government. Reuters |