Libya seeks end to Swiss blacklist

Libya renewed on Thursday its calls for Switzerland to drop a blacklist of high-ranking Libyans that effectively prevents them from entering most of Europe.

The United Nations ambassador for the North African country in New York urged the Swiss to drop the ban on 188 top officials, including Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The blacklist was issued by Bern last fall after Libya detained two Swiss businessmen, one of whom was released last month after being confined for 19 months.

The dispute between the two countries dates from July 2008 when Geneva police arrested Gaddafi’s son and wife following complaints from mistreatment by domestic employees, which were later dropped.

The Libyan government responded by cutting trade and withdrawing billions of francs from Swiss banks.

Bern’s decision to ban high-ranking Libyans from visiting the country is extended to the 25 member-countries of the Schengen Agreement, which includes Switzerland and countries from the European Union. The agreement effectively creates a passport-free travel zone across most of Europe.

Last year, 270 visa applications from Libyans seeking to enter the zone were rejected at Switzerland’s request, according to the Swiss immigration department.

Libya’s envoy Abdulrahman Mohammad Shalgham told reporters in New York that Tripoli wanted to see the dispute go to arbitration.

“We want a solution,” he said, according to a report from AFP. “We are ready to accept any verdict (from an arbitration process).