Comments on: Yes, it is our business

By: ciccio2011

ciccio2011 — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:47:46 +0000

Daphne, I agree with your position even if this is a sour pill to swallow for anyone with investments in Libya.
My only exception is with the statement “Those who made money because they were in with the Gaddafis will see their position of strength severely weakened, but they cannot seriously expect any support for their cause.” I believe those who were in with Gaddafi are the sort who will find a way to milk the new system to their heart’s content even when Gaddafi is gone.

By: Pip

Pip — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:59:01 +0000

Excellent article. Ten on ten.

By: A Camilleri

A Camilleri — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:27:47 +0000

In reply to Gahan. Gahan, kliemek ghaqli

By: Gahan

Gahan — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:58:29 +0000

Nittama li ma jigix xi sangisug jitlob xi flus lil-gvern minhabba li kull ma ghazel sarlu suf!

Meta kellhom ix-xoqqa f’moxta kienu jimpalawhom litteralment mil-Libja bil-kuntratti li kienu jiehdu.

Meta taghmel il-flus u ma thallasx taxxa tgawdi meta jtik bil-harta tikkriepa.

By: goldie

goldie — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:24:57 +0000

John Dalli will cry his eyes out, all he had worked for, and the trips to and from Libya, all that sand and hardship, those boring chats in a tent.

By: .Angus Black

.Angus Black — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:48:56 +0000

I read the Malta Chamber of Commerce letter to Eurochamber and others and fully agree with its contents with the exception of one minor detail.

While it is trying to protect Malta’s business with Libya, which is not negligible, I fail to understand how much impact it has in the EU’s ability to protect private investments and business in light of recent events.

Doing business and investing with a dictator led country is fraught with danger and at one’s risk.

In any investment ad (commercial) there is always a disclaimer that ‘past records are no guarantee of future performance’. The same principle applies to those who insist on doing business with a country ruled by an unstable leader.

Yes, many have benefited from doing business with Libya but the risk was always present and fortunately they have gotten away with it for 41 years. Hopefully what new administration comes out of the present events will present a lesser risk.

There are many rogue states Malta does business with but when the proverbial s*it hits the fan, the Chamber representing business interests most often has no alternative but to say ‘mea culpa’ especially if it facilitated contacts with such states.

Legitimate businesses have good and bad years but fundamentally strong ones survive the bad years and often come out stronger. Maltese businesses are no exception and should regard this as a bad year, although it may turn out not to be as bad as some may lead us to believe. Only time will tell.

By: Dee

Dee — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:00:09 +0000

Seif Al Islam is mentioned here;
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/03/malmo-libyan-organization-linked-to.html
The Local branch of the World Islamic Call Society is linked to this organization

A few weeks ago there was this – http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110222/local/libyans-ransack-office-at-islamic-call-society