Gadafy calls for EU acceptance of Libya

Colonel Gadafy is calling on the European Commission to help Libya "normalise" its diplomatic relations with European countries…

Colonel Gadafy is calling on the European Commission to help Libya "normalise" its diplomatic relations with European countries.

The Libyan leader has telephoned EC President Romano Prodi after agreeing to compensate families of victims of the 1988 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Colonel Gadafy
Libyan leader Colonel Gadafy has
spoken by telephone with
EC President Romano Prodi

A spokesman for Prodhi said President Gaddafi "reconfirmed his willingness to close the painful [Lockerbie] chapter . . . and to try and regain Libya's place in the international community.

"Col Gadafy [said] he was willing to do everything to respect the conditions established by the United Nations" to have international sanctions against his country, imposed in 1992, lifted, the spokesman said.

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Mr Prodi "took note of Libya's willingness to formalise and normalise, as quickly as possible, his relations with the European Union," he added.

For that to happen, Libya must join the EU's Mediterranean trade and aid programme that has sent billions of dollars in economic and other assistance to Israel and its Arab nations.

Libya has effectively boycotted the program by refusing to sit down with Israeli participants at regular meetings of government officials and ministers from the EU and southern Mediterranean nations.

PA