Gaddafi attacks Sarkozy plan for Union of the Med

The Telegraph ^ | 7/10/2008 | Bruno Waterfield in Tripoli

[bruinbirdman]

Nicolas Sarkozy's plans for a Mediterranean Union will fuel Islamist terrorism and will be regarded as "imperialism" by many in Africa and the Arab world, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi warned yesterday.

The comments by the Libyan leader are a major setback to the French President's Mediterranean project, his highest-profile initiative during France's turn at the European Union's six-month rotating presidency which began last week.

Mr Sarkozy has invited all the EU's 27 leaders plus premiers from 17 Mediterranean countries to a summit launching the new "Union" in Paris next week.

But Libya, which will boycott the meeting, has accused the EU of trying to divide Africa and the broader Arab world by drawing a Mediterranean Union map that echoes old colonialist designs for the region.

"We shall have another Roman empire and imperialist design," Col Gaddafi said in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, yesterday. "There are imperialist maps and designs that we have already rolled up. We should not have them again."

"I believe this project of the Union for the Mediterranean would increase illegal migration and terrorism and give a justification to Islamist extremists to step up Jihad attacks. These extremists would explain it as crusade against Islam and European colonisation," he said.

"They will talk about jihad in Europe. This project is frightening. This project is dangerous.

"They will interpret it as a new crusade to contain Muslim forces. They will see it as a new colonialism and they will accuse the Arabs that they are traitors, who have abandoned principles and sold out their countries."

"I predict this project will be a complete failure," said Col Gaddafi.

A French official said: "The Libyans are the only country that is not sending the head of government of state but it is sending a representative."

[Prole]

"Colonel Muammar Gaddafi warned yesterday"

The good Colonel doesn't need to be "warning" America or her Allies about anything given his past behavior.

I will always maintain that there is nothing wrong with Libya that warbirds like the American F-111 cannot fix.

[M. Espinola]

Great graphic! The Colonel’s mouthing off again could result in another lesson.

[snowman_returns]

I believe this project of the Union for the Mediterranean would increase illegal migration and terrorism and give a justification to Islamist extremists to step up Jihad attacks. These extremists would explain it as crusade against Islam and European colonisation," he said. "They will talk about jihad in Europe. This project is frightening. This project is dangerous.

You know what he's actually right we don't need any type of union with North African countries, nor do we need any of there rape happy illegal migrants that infest northern Europe.

The only contact we British/Europe should have with North Africa is when we go there on holiday and spend..........they never complain then, especially if we're buying Tunisian leather jackets!

Sarkozy is out of his tree on this one!!

[milky]

I don’t believe that he was warning America for a minute.

America stands to profit least from a Med - N. Afican Union...and Gaddafi knows where his bread is buttered and in whose hands his safety currently lies.