US Ambassador Douglas Kmiec yesterday outlined an improbable strategy to end the conflict in Libya which includes Colonel Muammar Gaddafi staying in the country.
He said Col Gaddafi would first have to implement a UN-verified ceasefire which does not include him retaining parts of the country he retook by force. It would also be crucial to release all prisoners who were detained unlawfully.
He must also pay, financially, for all the damage he caused. He would have to reimburse aid organisations which spent money to help people injured by his forces and repay countries like the US which participated in military action.
Prof. Kmiec said each Tomahawk missile fired by the US cost $ 500,000, which could have otherwise been spent on building hospitals and schools.
Any remaining money, which Col Gaddafi had obtained through bribery, would have to be returned to the people, Prof. Kmiec said, adding that Col Gaddafi would also have to bow out of participation in the media, politics and cultural activities. Even though this may seem like a tall order, Prof. Kmiec believes Col Gaddafi might accept such an offer to preserve some dignity and honour.
If he did, there would be one final condition: that if any of these conditions were not fulfilled, he would be deported immediately straight to the International Court of Justice to face justice for the crimes he committed throughout his lifetime.
Prof. Kmiec was speaking at the annual general meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Malta, where businessmen expressed their concern about the economic impact of the Libyan crisis on Maltese businesses.
One entrepreneur said a large group of Americans planning to come to Malta for a conference had cancelled because they felt Malta was unsafe. Another, however, said opportunities had arisen in places like Egypt in the business of logistics, thanks to Malta's strategic position.
Asked if Malta should have played a more " political" rather than humanitarian role in the conflict, Prof. Kmiec said the US understood Malta's " non-aligned" position within the crisis.
" The US likes to have a number of military bases all around because it is more convenient," he said. However, Malta had explained its position very convincingly and even he had come to understand the value of having a " non-aligned" state, which although unequivocal in its condemnation of the violence committed by the Gaddafi regime, remained a " listening post".
Interestingly, soon after taking up his post in Malta in 2009, Prof. Kmiec had treaded on delicate political ground by questioning the island's neutrality and if this meant being neutral to peace efforts around the world.
He yesterday said Malta made it clear it was ready to listen to any " offers" and pass them on to the coalition and other countries to seek a conclusion to the crisis. Meanwhile, Prof. Kmiec thanked Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for having the political courage to condemn racial discrimination and stereotyping, even though this was not a position that won him votes.
He said the only long-term solution for the issue of immigration was for Libya to become a thriving and free country. But in the meantime, human dignity should be a priority.
At the end of his speech, Prof. Kmiec responded to the US State Department, which last week accused him of wasting time as an ambassador by spending too much time writing about his Catholic beliefs.
Referring to this as a " small tussle with some people", he said if " they" had a problem with him praying, he would pray in Maltese and they would never know. He then proceeded to read a prayer in Maltese about forgiveness, which he later explained meant a lot to him because he too had to have the courage to love those who misunderstand him and his faith.
Prof. Kmiec also said the US Embassy would be inaugurating its new premises and celebrating the 4th of July on July 17, with a number of " very special guests" from America.