Khadafi concludes historic trip to Italy

2009-06-12

More than 65 years after the end of Italy's presence in Libya, Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi visited Italy this week to mark a new beginning in relations.

Jamel Arfaoui in Tunis contributed to this report for Magharebia – 12/06/09

[Getty Images] Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlesconi meet in Italy for the first time.

Libyan leader Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, accompanied by a delegation of several hundred Libyan officials and public figures, travelled to Italy on Wednesday (June 10th) for the first time since his ascension to power forty years ago.

The three-day historic trip - aimed at boosting bilateral relations between Libya and Italy and paving the way to greater co-operation with the EU - showed success, analysts said. The two countries concluded several agreements, including a pledge by Rome to provide 100 scholarships and a memorandum of understanding easing entry visa procedures.

"The past is gone and we open a new page of friendship," Kadhafi said after meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

The visit follows an agreement signed in 2008, wherein Italy promised to pay $5 billion in investments over the next 25 years to compensate Libya for the occupation from 1911-1942.

"A painful chapter of history is finally over," said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi when he welcomed Kadhafi at the airport.

At the same time, Kadhafi did not miss the chance to show the extent of new relations between the two countries, calling Berlusconi "a friend" and praising his "courage and wisdom" for doing "what former governments failed to do, which is to apologise" for colonialisation.

"Italy is the only colonial power that has completely rid itself of the legacy of the colonisation era," Kadhafi said.

In a symbolic gesture, Kadhafi took the grandchild of Libyan hero Omar al-Moukhtar with him to Italy. Al-Moukhtar was executed by the Italian occupiers in 1931 for his role in provoking the uprising against the occupation and leading the Libyan armed resistance.

The Libyan leader voiced his country’s support of Italy’s position towards the reform of the UN Security Council and Italy's right to assume a permanent seat in the Council.

Italy is increasingly dependent on Libyan gas and oil. It imports about 25% of its oil and 33% of its natural gas needs from Libya. According to the General Union of Libyan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, there are 52 Italian companies working in Libya, the most of any foreign nation.

"We want them to widen Italian investment," said union chief Juma'a Alosta, "We want them (i.e. the Italians) to be our partners in Africa, and we shall be their partners in Europe."

Rome also depends on Tripoli to help curb illegal immigration from the Libyan coast towards Italy. The Libyans have pledged to co-operate, as reflected by the recent agreement to combat illegal immigration, signed in May by the Secretary of the Libyan General People’s Committee for Public Security Abdelfattah Younis Ebeidi and Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni.

Kadhafi told Italian senators on Thursday that Libya needs funding support from the European Union to help fight illegal immigration. "Many billions of euros are needed to stem the flows of immigrants into the Mediterranean," he said.

From Rome, Kadhafi renewed his pledge to help with disputed issues back in Africa. "We have decided to help our brothers in the Horn of Africa with whom Italy has special relations in order to settle the border disputes between Ethiopia and Eritrea," he said.

He also confirmed that he was doing preparations to present a draft international resolution for facing the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia.

"In addition to the historical legacy, both Libya and Italy are trying to turn to one of the most important bridges between the two shores in the relation in the so-called Union for the Mediterranean," said Naser Eddine ben Hdid, a specialist in Maghreb affairs. "There is also the role that Tripoli can play in illegal immigration and the issue of terrorism through the Community of Sahel-Saharan States."

But the visit was not all positive. Thursday was marred by demonstrations in Rome. The demonstrations were organised by students, political and rights activists in protest of what they considered as "Libyan human rights abuses".

The African Press Organisation reported Friday, however, that the International Organisation for Migration and three Libyan NGOs have partnered to provide medical aid, clothing and food to illegal migrants. Under the new partnership agreement, the World Islamic Call Society, the International Organisation for Peace, Care and Relief and Al-Wafa will offer humanitarian assistance to migrants detained in Libya.