Brussels, 22/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, said on Monday 22 February, that she hoped a solution would be found “as soon as possible” to resolve the crisis between Libya and the countries of the Schengen Area since Tripoli decided to no longer grant visas to nationals of these countries due to a row with Switzerland (EUROPE 10080). Catherine Ashton explained that the matter was in hand and that the situation was evolving hour by hour. She explained that, if no solution were found, the interior ministers of Schengen countries would tackle the specific question of visas from next Thursday on during the Justice and Home Affairs Council. In the meantime, she said, they would call on Libya to waive this unilateral decision and call on Switzerland to continue negotiation. (B.C./transl.jl)