Prodi risks US anger after call for Libya to join coalition

Date: 25/10/01

By David Cronin

Commission head Romano Prodi indicated yesterday (24 October) that he wants Libya to join the international coalition against terrorism, even though it is still considered a pariah state by Washington.

Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg, the former Italian premier said: "I believe we should be able to respond to the new signals of interest in joint goals - such as the fight against AIDS - coming from countries like Libya. Europe is best placed to respond to these political signals and to help such countries join our coalition." While the US continues to suspect Tripoli of harbouring terrorists Muammer Gadaffi's regime has sought a reconciliation with EU states, particularly through agreeing to a request for the extradition of two men charged with the 1988 plane bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. Gadaffi has also strongly condemned the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Gunnar Wiegand, the Commission's foreign policy spokesman, said yesterday (24 October) that Libya has been asked to send an observer to Brussels for the meeting between EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from 12 countries in the Mediterranean region on 5 and 6 November.

Last year Prodi caused embarrassment in EU diplomatic circles by inviting Gadaffi to Brussels for what would have been his first European visit since 1992. Under intense pressure from some member states, he later withdrew the invitation.

The EU formally accepted in 1999 that Libya could enter negotiations aimed at achieving a free-trade agreement with both the Union and its neighbours once sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council are lifted.

Additionally, it would have to accept the full terms of the 1995 'Barcelona declaration' on Europe-Mediterranean relations, which demands respect for human rights and democracy.

While work on implementing that declaration has been stalled, the Union has been trying to inject a fresh impetus. Wiegand hailed the recent Agadir accord, under which four of the signatories undertook to tear down tariff barriers between themselves, as significant progress. The four were Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan.

Commission President Romano Prodi indicated on 24 October 2001 that he wants Libya to join the international coalition against terrorism, even though it is still considered a pariah state by Washington.