Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss government has suspended its 20 August 2009 agreement with Libya designed to improve relations and is restricting visas issued to Libyans. The Federal Council (cabinet) noted in a press release Wednesday 4 November that Tripoli has refused all collaboration and that “the two Swiss citizens, who were taken in violation of international law, are still being held in an unknown area. The Libyan authorities refuse to allow anyone to visit them.”
The tense relations with Libya that resulted from the July 2008 arrest in Geneva of leader Mouammar Qadaffi’s son Hannibal and his wife appeared to improve in August, but have since deteriorated as Libya has failed to honour the terms of the agreement and a later promise given personally by Qadaffi. It included a promise by Libya to release two Swiss citizens to whom it has refused to give exit permits.
Background, GenevaLunch on Qadaffi
News story, GenevaLunch, 4 November 2009.
Filed under: Politics
Tags: agreement, businessmen, Hannibal, hostages, Libya, Mouammar Qadaffi, Switzerland, treaty
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One Response to “Switzerland firms tone with Libya”
November 9th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
[...] GenevaLunch on Qadaffi Posted by :: Ellen Wallace on 9 November [...]