Brussels, 10/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - At the end of last week the European Commission received a "verbal notice" from the Libyan authorities affirming, in appropriate terms, that Libya agrees to the principles and acquis of the Euro-Mediterranean Barcelona process. EUROPE recalls that this approach was a precondition for Libya to be invited to take part in this process as a full member (in diplomatic language, a "verbal notice" is in fact a written text, as requested by the EU). Nonetheless, the Libyan document contained an aspect that gives rise to deep concern in Brussels: Libya apparently considers that Israel and the Palestinian Authority should not fully take part in the Barcelona process until they have smoothed out their differences.
This element must be clarified. As it appears at the moment, it is not acceptable for the EU.
As far as the meeting envisaged between Colonel Kadhafi and President Prodi is concerned, there are not, from the Commission's point of view, any preconditons, but the question remains to be discussed between the Commission and the Member States (see EUROPE of 7 January p.4, and also the previous article with Mr Prodi's latest declarations).
On the subject of the missile parts (see below), the Commission spokesman observed that these incidents recall how "wise" it is to keep up the arms embargo against Libya.
In London, on Sunday, the British government said the use of Gatwick Airport for smuggling Scud parts to Libya, via Malta, was "unacceptable". It was in defiance of the EU embargo on arms exports to this country and despite international agreements banning the export of ballistic missile technologies.
British customs services confirmed the seizure at Gatwick Airport, last November, of 32 crates containing Scud parts from Taiwan and intended for Libya.