from: www.timesofmalta.com Jan 1 2004:

MALTA-LIBYA RADIO STATION SIGNS OFF
Ariadne Massa

The Voice of the Mediterranean went on air for the last time yesterday and
its 13 employees have received termination letters.

The shortwave radio station, set up 20 years ago by Libya and Malta, has had
to close down for financial reasons after the Libyan government failed to
pay its share of the funding, running up arrears of nearly Lm1 million.

The station's mission was to promote Mediterranean culture, primarily the
Maltese culture and identity, and encourage people from different cultures
to identify what can unite them in order to promote peace in the region.

The employees have been assured they will receive all termination benefits
and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin will be initiating talks with the
government to find them alternative employment.

The two governments had committed themselves to pumping Lm180,000 a year to
keep the station running. But the Libyan government recently informed Malta
"it no longer saw a function for this kind of station".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs then wrote to the Libyan government asking
it to confirm its intentions and to open discussions on the Lm1 million owed
to VOM.

The ministry gave the Libyan government until December 31 to officially
answer its letter but until yesterday it had received no reply.

On December 17, a letter of goodwill had been sent to the Libyan Ambassador
to Malta, Ali Nageem, by the deputy secretary of the Public Broadcasting
Board in Libya.

VOM managing director Richard Muscat said Mr Nageem had forwarded him a copy
of the letter which, in a nutshell, said the Libyans were committed to
continue participating in VOM for the next 10 years and to pay their dues.

However, the money still didn't arrive and a spokesman for the foreign
ministry said it would only have considered an official letter sent
specifically to the ministry in response to its official request.

An inquiry ordered by Foreign Ministry Joe Borg, after accusations were
levelled against Mr Muscat's way of running the station, cleared Mr Muscat
of any wrongdoing. The opposition, however, found the inquiry report
"unacceptable" and said it smacked of a cover-up.

When contacted yesterday, Mr Muscat said he was sorry to see the station
closing down after all these years and expressed disappointment that he had
been made a scapegoat.

He said the deputy secretary of the Libyan Broadcasting Board had stated in
his letter that his services were very much appreciated and he looked
forward to furthering this cooperation in the coming years.

"I have worked hard to boost VOM and I still truly believe it has a role to
play," said Mr Muscat.
END