Politics
Italy: Gaddafi fails to show up at top-level meeting in Rome
Rome, 12 June (AKI) - The speaker of Italy's lower house cancelled a top-level conference in honour of Muammar Gaddafi in Rome on Friday after the Libyan leader failed to arrive.
"The conference with Gaddafi has not been held due to the delay by Libyan (leader) Gaddafi," said Gianfranco Fini, a senior ally of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. "The two-hour delay is not justified."
Gaddafi was scheduled to meet Fini late Friday and take part in a conference with the speaker and former Italian foreign minister Massimo D'Alema.
Gaddafi had failed to arrive two hours after the agreed time and at 6.30 p.m. in Rome Fini called off the meeting.
Earlier on Friday Gaddafi pledged to give greater priority to Italian companies doing business in his country, but warned business leaders against "corrupting" the Libyan people.
"Italian companies will have priority in Libya," said Gaddafi in a speech to 600 Italian business leaders organised by Confindustria, Italy's largest private employer body. "Libya will not favour other countries at Italy's expense."
Libya has earmarked spending of 11.8 billion euros to attract foreign investment to the North African country.
But Gaddafi also warned that any company which took advantage of the Libyan people would have to leave the country.
"There are companies that are wrong, thinking they can work by buying (or taking advantage) of the Libyan people. But if we discover this practice, these companies will have to leave the country," said Gaddafi.
"The company which succeeds will be the one which benefits the Libyan people. Do not say you didn't know about it, I have warned you."
"We carried out a revolution not just against colonialism, but also against corruption. We are very sensitive to this issue," Gaddafi said.
In regard to Italy's energy needs, Libya said Italy would have preferential treatment.
"Libya will not favour other countries at the expense of Italy, said Gaddafi.
"More than 75 percent of Italy's energy needs comes from abroad, and most of it from Libya. If Libya sent gas and oil to other countries, it would cause serious damage to Italy. Libya should not do such a thing."
The controversial leader launched an attack against Italy's centre-left and praised prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for providing greater business opportunities.
"If the left was heading the government in Italy, the profits of the companies would be lower. As long as Berlusconi governs Italy, the opportunities for companies will be higher."
On Friday Italy's farmers' association, Coldiretti, reported that the export of Italian agricultural products to Libya rose by 51 percent to total a record 105 million euros in 2008.
Gaddafi and his 200-member entourage have been given a warm welcome by Berlusconi and other senior government officials on his first visit to Rome.
But on Thursday students at Rome University staged a noisy protest against the Libyan leader.
"The conference with Gaddafi has not been held due to the delay by Libyan (leader) Gaddafi," said Gianfranco Fini, a senior ally of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. "The two-hour delay is not justified."
Gaddafi was scheduled to meet Fini late Friday and take part in a conference with the speaker and former Italian foreign minister Massimo D'Alema.
Gaddafi had failed to arrive two hours after the agreed time and at 6.30 p.m. in Rome Fini called off the meeting.
Earlier on Friday Gaddafi pledged to give greater priority to Italian companies doing business in his country, but warned business leaders against "corrupting" the Libyan people.
"Italian companies will have priority in Libya," said Gaddafi in a speech to 600 Italian business leaders organised by Confindustria, Italy's largest private employer body. "Libya will not favour other countries at Italy's expense."
Libya has earmarked spending of 11.8 billion euros to attract foreign investment to the North African country.
But Gaddafi also warned that any company which took advantage of the Libyan people would have to leave the country.
"There are companies that are wrong, thinking they can work by buying (or taking advantage) of the Libyan people. But if we discover this practice, these companies will have to leave the country," said Gaddafi.
"The company which succeeds will be the one which benefits the Libyan people. Do not say you didn't know about it, I have warned you."
"We carried out a revolution not just against colonialism, but also against corruption. We are very sensitive to this issue," Gaddafi said.
In regard to Italy's energy needs, Libya said Italy would have preferential treatment.
"Libya will not favour other countries at the expense of Italy, said Gaddafi.
"More than 75 percent of Italy's energy needs comes from abroad, and most of it from Libya. If Libya sent gas and oil to other countries, it would cause serious damage to Italy. Libya should not do such a thing."
The controversial leader launched an attack against Italy's centre-left and praised prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for providing greater business opportunities.
"If the left was heading the government in Italy, the profits of the companies would be lower. As long as Berlusconi governs Italy, the opportunities for companies will be higher."
On Friday Italy's farmers' association, Coldiretti, reported that the export of Italian agricultural products to Libya rose by 51 percent to total a record 105 million euros in 2008.
Gaddafi and his 200-member entourage have been given a warm welcome by Berlusconi and other senior government officials on his first visit to Rome.
But on Thursday students at Rome University staged a noisy protest against the Libyan leader.
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