Brussels, 27/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - On a visit to Belgium, Colonel Gadhaffi met the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, in Brussels on 27 April, before a meeting extended to other members of the Commission, Mr Lamy, Mr Vitorino and Mr Almunia, who were joined for lunch by Mr Patten, Mr Kinnock and Mr Byrne. During their statement to the press, Mr Prodi and Mr Gadhaffi both affirmed their joint commitment to establishing good relations and to turning the page on over a decade of difficult relations, to work for the construction of the Euro-Mediterranean space, be it under the Barcelona process or "5+5" (western Mediterranean), and support for development in Africa. On weapons of mass destruction, Colonel Gadhaffi said that his country had given them up, and called upon the US and China to do the same. President Prodi repeated his wish for the resolution of the last two obstacles to normalisation (the case of the Berlin nightclub "La Belle" and the detention in Libya of Bulgarian medical staff accused of having spread the Aids virus to patients in the Benghazi hospital). Colonel Gadhaffi was at pains to reassure him, giving his word that the trial would take place in full respect of Libyan law.
On the most greatly anticipated news, Libya's commitment to, and its formal request for bilateral co-operation with the EU and to accept the mainly political acquis (human rights, democracy etc) of the Barcelona process, "we understood that he [Gadhaffi] accepted this acquis", said Romano Prodi's spokesperson, but added that "formally", both sides are writing a letter by which Tripoli will confirm the basic principles laid down in the Barcelona declaration. This letter will be finalised on Tuesday evening or on Wednesday, said Reijo Kemppinen, who did not rule out the possibility that Messrs Prodi and Gadhaffi could talk again on this during the Libyan leader's stay in Brussels.
Speaking to the press, Romano Prodi called this Tuesday a "great day", and welcomed Libya's commitment to work for the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity both in the Mediterranean and on the African continent. He underlined the importance both the EU and Tripoli attach to Africa's development and integration, specifying that "we have decided to consult further on joint co-operation to the benefit of Sub-Saharan Africa" The President of the Commission also indicated that Libya would find its place in the EU's new neighbours policy and in the "privileged framework for dialogue and co-operation" that is the Barcelona process. "We are committed to make Libya a full member of the Barcelona process as soon as possible", he added.
Pointing out that his country has been in the vanguard of national liberation movements in Africa and that he has clashed with the United States, Colonel Gadhaffi said that it was time to "turn the page". Libya, he said, has decided to lead from the front to help to bring peace, and to help to breathe new life into the Barcelona process and the "5+5" dialogue.
On illegal immigration, the Libyan head of State said that it was better to understand the phenomenon before it reaches explosive proportions. The free movement of people is something to be expected, as the world is a village, he said, underlining that "it is in the interests of an ageing Europe to receive these migrants, but it must be controlled". Colonel Gadhaffi regretted the fact that the North African countries (especially Libya and Algeria, which have common borders with black Africa) have become transit countries. On this point, he referred to the fragility of Europe's southern boundaries. If Europe hopes to be able to fight these migratory flows, it must work with us and lend its assistance to control our borders better, he said, adding that North Africans must not become Europe's door-keepers.