Libyan leader seeks cash to prevent "black Europe"
ROME — Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, on a visit to Rome, said the EU should pay Libya "at least five billion euros a year" to stop clandestine immigration and avoid…
ROME — Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, on a visit to Rome, said the EU should pay Libya "at least five billion euros a year" to stop clandestine immigration and avoid a "black Europe."Kadhafi's visit to mark the second anniversary of a friendship treaty with former coloniser Italy had already stumbled into controversy after he said Europe should convert to Islam.Speaking at a ceremony here late Monday standing next to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Kadhafi said his plan to "put an end to" illegal immigration was backed by Italy, but Berlusconi remained silent.Backing Libya's request for cash would be in the interests of Europe which otherwise "tomorrow, with the advance of millions of immigrants, could become (another) Africa," Kadhafi affirmed.Libya "is the entry door for unwanted immigration" which should be "stopped at the Libyan borders," he went on. "Tomorrow Europe might no longer be European and even black as there are millions (of Africans) who want to come in," Kadhafi argued, describing the migratory movements as "something very dangerous.""We don't know what will happen, what will be the reaction of the white and Christian Europeans faced with this influx of starving and ignorant Africans," the Libyan firebrand said, adding: "We don't know if Europe will remain an advanced and united continent or if it will be destroyed as happened with the barbarian invasions."But Kadhafi insisted: "There is also desirable immigration. There are Libyans who have money and I encourage them to come to Italy to invest."Kadhafi, who came to power after the overthrow of the monarchy 41 years ago, landed in Italy on Sunday to mark the second anniversary of a friendship treaty signed with Berlusconi that drew a line under the countries' bitter colonial-era relationship.Ties between Rome and its former colony have deepened since the signing of the friendship accord, with Italy now the third largest European investor in the North African country.Italy has said it will invest five billion dollars and build a 1
last modification 2010-08-31 05:56:26
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