PM expects joint oil exploration deal with Italy - Efforts to attract Antonov aircraft maintenance facility to Malta

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning that the government was working to achieve an agreement for joint oil exploration with Italy in areas claimed by the two countries, in the same way as agreement was reached last week regarding joint exploration with Libya. These disputes had been dragging for some 40 years, with nothing having been achieved for any side, Dr Muscat said in a One Radio interview. He also announced that the government is working to attract investment for the setting up of a facility for the maintenance of Antonov aircraft in Malta. He also intends to hold high level talks in China, Israel and Palestine in the coming days. AGREEMENT WITH LIBYA On the agreement reached with Libya for the procurement of oil by Malta at favourable rates, Dr Muscat said this was a ground-breaking deal covering oil, gas and LPG. The agreement, he said, included provisions for both crude and refined oil. The agreement would come into force as soon as Libya was in a position to produce enough oil. "What somebody was not able to achieve in a quarter century, we achieved in five months thanks to hard work and a Libyan government which was prepared to listen," Dr Muscat said. The...