Brussels, 05/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - President Prodi received a telephone message on 30 December from Libyan President Muammar Khadafi. According to a press release from the European Commission, Mr Prodi told Mr Khadafi: "Now it is time for Libya to enter through the main door and to contribute to the Euro-Med dialogue and to be part of EU's ring of friends". According to the press release, Colonel Khadafi stressed his country's strategic interest in gaining a place within the international community, through strengthened dialogue with Washington and strong partnership with the EU. To achieve this, Colonel Khadafi declared himself ready to consider joining in full the Barcelona Process. He expressed his firm intention to mark this new era by contacts with the EU at top official level. Mr Prodi, for his part, is willing to receive the Libyan President in Brussels as soon as possible. His spokesperson, when asked about this on Monday, said he could not yet give a date for such a visit. During the telephone conversation, Mr Prodi welcomed Libya's decision to give up its programmes of weapons of mass destruction (see EUROPE of 23 December, p.4).