conference with Prodi in Brussels, al-Qathafi stresses his country's looking forward to consolidate world peace
Libya-Belgium, Politics, 4/28/2004

The Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi said that his country is determined to play a pioneering role in enhancing world peace.

In a joint press conference with the chairman of the European commission Romano Prodi in Brussels, he added " Libya can be a bridge between Africa and Europe but should be a bridge for peace and cooperation, rather than a bridge for what it used to be in the past."

The Libyan leader called on the European Union to collaborate with his country in order to control the migration coming from Africa's states which passes through Libya in its way to Europe. He said that the countries of northern African can not protect its borders with southern Europe.

At the economic side, the Libyan leader indicated that his country wants to have European and American companies investing in the Libyan oil sector to help in its acceleration.

For his part, Prodi stressed that the European Union is determined to make Libya a complete members in what he called Barcelona process. The plan which defines cooperations between the EU and countries of the Mediterranean basin. He expressed his confidence that pending issues between Libya and the EU will be settled within the few coming weeks.

Later in the day, al-Qathafi met with the higher representative for the EU foreign policy Javier Solana before he had met with the Belgian prime minister at a dinner banquet held in his honor.

The Libyan leader is due to leave Brussels today ( Wednesday) following meetings with Belgian businessmen and a reception at the Belgian parliament. Al-Qathafi's visit to Brussels is his first European visit since more than 15 years and is considered the most recent indicator for dismantling the international isolation used to be imposed on Tripoli.

On this occasion, the Amnesty International issued a statement saying that Libya is still torturing and execute political prisoners. It called on Tripoli to translate its promises concerning human rights into action.

Near the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels some 200 persons showed their extreme joys in the visit of al-Qathafi, chanting welcoming words, while some 50 Libyan demonstrated in the same place carrying slogans deploring al-Qathafi and accusing him of violating human rights. N.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Qathafi visits Brussels today, meets with senior European officials   (4/27/2004)
  Al-Qathafi in a historical visit to Belgium   (4/22/2004)
  Qathafi gets invitation to visit Belgium   (2/17/2004)

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