Mark Micallef, Tripoli
Gaddafi: Stop the migration or Europe turns black
Notable absences from Euro–Africa summit in Libya
Libya has pulled out all the stops for the EU-Africa summit being held in Tripoli, which Muammar Gaddafi used as a platform to reiterate his demand for €5 billion a year to stop immigration at the gates. Photo: Jeremy Wonnacott/DOI
Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi yesterday warned that his country will no longer be a coastguard for Europe as he reiterated his demand for €5 billion a year from the EU to stop “black” migrants from overwhelming Europe.
“We should stop this illegal immigration. If we don’t, Europe will become black, it will be overcome by people with different religions, it will change,” he said, using the same language he had used in a controversial speech he gave in Rome in August.
Speaking at the opening of the third EU-Africa summit being held in Tripoli, he went a step further. Only Italy had understood the situation, he said, pointing out that because it had cooperated with Libya, it managed to “delay” illegal immigration.
“North Africa is the link and Europe is the destination... We are the gate and you should listen to us if you want to preserve Europe,” he said.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Libyan Ambassador to Malta Saadun Suayeh described Mr Gaddafi’s request in August as symbolic after the EU shot down the prospect of paying anything of the sort for a deal on immigration.
However, Mr Gaddafi, famed for his maverick style, yesterday reiterated his demand, in a typically lengthy opening speech.
Libyan organisers pulled out all the stops for the summit, summoning a massive security detail of police and military personnel and even closing off significant parts of downtown Tripoli.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi addressed the two-day meeting late in the afternoon, during a session dedicated to climate change.
From a broader perspective, Mr Gaddafi’s speech went straight to the heart of the problem faced by the leaders convened at the summit.
As well as Africa’s leading aid donor, the EU remains the top trading partner of this developing continent. However, the situation is changing fast with emerging players like Brazil and India joining China in pursuing business with the resource-rich continent.
While Europe tends to exert pressure on questions like human rights, democracy and freedom of speech during talks with most African states, China especially has been notoriously unconcerned with these issues, having itself fought off external pressure for democratic reform.
Mr Gaddafi played on this in his speech, pointing out that Africa had options in China, Latin America and Russia, besides Europe. He argued that Europe should not interfere in the internal affairs of any country.
Specifically on the subject of human rights, he argued this was a subjective matter which should be left to individual countries to manage.
“What is a human right? According to the Green Book (Gaddafi’s 1975 book outlining his views of democracy and political philosophy) a human right is the right not to be made to work eight hours and being paid for four,” he said.
The discussion should hinge on developing solar and nuclear facilities in Africa and connecting the two continents so the energy can be exported to Europe, he stressed. “This is what we should be discussing and internal matters should be left for each country to decide for itself.”
At the last minute the meeting was boycotted by Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, who faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes allegedly committed in Darfur.
There are also notable absences from the European side – British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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Sean Grima
Dec 16th 2010, 10:46
as usual, the comments prove that racism is the product of ignorance.
Stephen Koludrovic
Dec 1st 2010, 08:39
Wow! This is fantastic news for our NGOS. a mouth watering situation not to be missed.
Andrew Hili
Dec 1st 2010, 02:51
What a joker Gaddafi is....and Europe believing him! Pah...I really now wish I never voted for this wholly corrupt EU thing!
Mela first they are thinking of allowing Turkey to become part of Europe, which if done will automatically double the amount of muslims in Europe to about 104 million! Now they are considering/discussing this €5 billion a year for Gaddafi to stop illigal immigration!!!
This is nothing but a sick joke....anyone who ever went to Libya will know that it is near to impossible for anyone to sneak out of the country undetected as you find guards everywhere, so it is clear that all the immigrants are being helped from Libya to cross over. The only reason was given by Gaddafi himslef during one of his speaches where he said that "what the muslims failed to do with sword and cannon centuries ago, they are now quietly and easliy doing it with illegal immigration".
The muslims only aim in life is to take over Europe and America....and they are bit by bit succeeding through immigration. Just for one to know...it is estimated that by the year 2050, all of France will be muslim....and this is no joke!
DVella
Dec 1st 2010, 18:15
. . . that's right mate, oh and I'm sure you recall just as well as I do that back in the day when we used to learn something called Geography in school . . . Turkey was ALWAYS in Asia Minor NOT in Europe. Now either the pillocks in the EU are totally unaware of this or else Turkey has managed to move itself from its former location . . . Quite a geological feat in continental drift terms considering only twenty or so years (not 20 billion) have passed!!
I would add some comments about Mister Ghaddafi but I think the Law courts have more than enough to do for the next twenty years!
Sean Grima
Nov 30th 2010, 23:33
the 5 million quid should be spent on improving the lives of the "black africans", not given to this dictator to perpetuate his rule.
Cecil Herbert Jones
Nov 30th 2010, 22:48
On the other hand why doesn't Malta ask the EU for €5 Billion a year to protect Europe's coastline. We are capable of doing a good job, maybe even save a billion Euro every year that should settle the island's growing deficit.
I think the EU should favour one of its own to protect its Mediterranean coastline!
Christian Sciberras
Nov 30th 2010, 15:27
What does a dictator and a terrorist know about human rights?
Joseph Calleja
Nov 30th 2010, 15:16
Very simple, Mr Gaddafi wants €5 billion a year from the EU to stop “black” migrants from overwhelming Europe. Isn't this some form of black mail? Check it out, first he exports all these people to flood Europe, now he says unless you give me €5 billion a year, Europe will be flooded by these African people. I think Mr Gaddafi is holding all of Europe and the rest of the world hostage. This is not something new since he does have control of the import and export of human beings to Europe. He knows he is holding the key to illegal Immigration and he has the power and the means to flood all of Europe with these black migrants.He has already proven that he is in control.
R.Camilleri
Nov 30th 2010, 20:48
Thus Norman Lowell said well when he used to say that Malta/ Europe will turn black by the flood of these people. They must be kept at source and not left to leave to infiltrate in other countries.
Louise Vella
Nov 30th 2010, 14:40
“Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi yesterday warned that his country will no longer be a coastguard for Europe”. We’ve been warned! Europe must set up its own coastguard. The EU needs to strengthen Frontex so that it takes over from Italy the policy of pushing unwanted boats back to Libya. “We should stop this illegal immigration. If we don’t, Europe will become black, it will be overcome by people with different religions, it will change.” Is this what the do-gooder NGOs wish and are working for?
Sean Grima
Nov 30th 2010, 23:30
they wish to improve the plight of these people, here and now.
Michael Grech
Nov 30th 2010, 11:58
"Stop the migration or Europe turns black" . Poor Africa! This is your supposed King of kings! The comment: "Europe tends to exert pressure on questions like human rights, democracy and freedom of speech during talks with most African states", takes the biscut!
John Azzopardi
Nov 30th 2010, 11:27
So, most maltese were right when we were saying that Gaddafi was allowing all the illegal migrants crossing over to Malta and other EU coutnries. And they they call people racist. Who in his right mind want thousands of illegal migrants not knowing their background to land on their shores. And the threat is on again. Well, as we all know, Berlusconi did the right thing when he sent the illegal migrants who had no business being in Italy back to where they came from. To me a refugee is someone who has suffered immensely like those women being raped in the Congo, etc etc.
Sean Grima
Nov 30th 2010, 23:31
what a refugee means to you is irrelevant, what counts is the legal definition.
Jonathan Barbara
Nov 30th 2010, 09:39
His concern about Europe is in stark contrast to a speech he made in Timbuktu on 10 April 2006: http://www.jihadwatch.org/2006/05/qaddafi-europe-and-the-us-should-agree-to-become-islamic-or-declare-war-on-the-muslims.html