Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi, who has proved an awkward guest for Nicolas Sarkozy, described his visit to France as “historic” and condemned terrorism after a second meeting with the president.
Despite the French opposition describing his visit as a “farce” because of Libya’s human rights record, Gadaffi told France 24 television in an interview he saw it as “an opening to have relations with Europe. It’s historic.”
The Paris trip — his first in 34 years — is his most high-profile foreign visit since he began to rebuild bridges with the United States and Europe four years ago.
The Libyan leader had earlier had a second one-on-one meeting with Sarkozy, who welcomed him on the steps of the Élysée Palace.
They discussed Sarkozy’s proposal for a union of Mediterranean countries as well as discussing civil nuclear energy and armaments, Élysée spokesperson David Martinon said.
On France 24, Gadaffi condemned terrorism and said he did not believe that al-Qaeda would achieve its objective of “extending its empire”.
But condemning terrorism was not enough, he added. “It is necessary to find the causes of terrorism.”
Gadaffi repeated his condemnation of Tuesday’s twin car bombings in Algiers which killed dozens as “an aimless criminal act”.
He earlier told a conference that they were “reprehensible acts” and said al-Qaeda members blamed for them were “criminals”.
Speaking in Arabic, translated into French, after his second meeting with Sarkozy, Gadaffi said “the relations are very good, very friendly, we agree on everything”.
He added: “From now on … I can visit Europe when I want, any country, and even the United States.
“Things have changed. The circumstances that prevented me from coming have disappeared,” added Gadaffi, long kept at arm’s length by Western nations for his support for terrorism.
Gadaffi said he had asked Sarkozy to “treat well the African community” in France, with the president replying that immigrants should not fear police.
Two years ago France was shaken by three weeks of riots in the poor suburbs where many residents are African immigrants, while a few days ago unrest in a Paris suburb resulted in dozens of police being hurt.
Earlier, police closed off bridges across the Seine so Gadaffi could have a barge trip with his female minders standing guard on the deck.
His visit has drawn fierce protests from rights groups, the political left and some members of the governing right, who accuse Sarkozy of betraying the human rights cause by welcoming the former pariah.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon defended the visit Wednesday, saying France “is not selling its soul”.
Sarkozy has argued that as Gadaffi has abandoned sponsorship of terrorism and development of illegal weapons, France should encourage him further down the path of international respectability.
Gadaffi’s visit follows the release in July of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who had been accused of infecting children with HIV/Aids and sentenced to death. Sarkozy’s then wife Cecilia helped secure their release.
Opposition lawmakers — who on Tuesday boycotted a meeting with Gadaffi at the French Parliament and accused Sarkozy of “condoning torture” — rounded on him again Wednesday.
Sarkozy “must realise that he has fallen into the trap of an unscrupulous dictator,” said former Socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal.
“If things carry on this way, this whole visit is going to turn into a farce,” warned the Socialist leader in Parliament, Jean-Marc Ayrault.
Sarkozy has stressed the economic benefits of the visit, which the French government predicts will result in deals worth more than €10-billion ($14,7-billion), including contracts for Airbus airliners and a nuclear-powered water desalination plant.
A French source close to the talks said a “memorandum of understanding” had been signed for Libya’s purchase of 14 Rafale planes, 35 helicopters and other military equipment. – AFP