Gadhafi makes first visit to Italy
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 11, 2009 00:00
ROME - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi began his first visit to Italy yesterday with a warm embrace from Premier Silvio Berlusconi, evidence of better ties between the energy-rich desert nation and its former colonial ruler.
Gadhafi's four-day visit was packed with speeches, including the rare honor of addressing the Italian Senate, and an appearance at Rome's centuries-old Sapienza University. He also agreed to meet with some of the 20,000 Italians he kicked out in 1970 to punish Rome for its 1911-1941 colonization.
Human Rights Watch decried the visit, saying it "celebrates a dirty deal" reached recently in which Italy sends back to Libya illegal immigrants rescued at sea who set sail in smugglers' boats from Libyan shores. Relations between Italy and Libya have warmed over the past few years, capped by an agreement last year for Italy to compensate Libya for its occupation. The $5 billion package involves construction projects, student grants and pensions for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during World War II.
In return, Libya agreed to crack down on the thousands of illegal migrants smuggled each year across the Mediterranean to Italy
Human Rights Watch decried the visit, saying it "celebrates a dirty deal" reached recently in which Italy sends back to Libya illegal immigrants rescued at sea who set sail in smugglers' boats from Libyan shores. Relations between Italy and Libya have warmed over the past few years, capped by an agreement last year for Italy to compensate Libya for its occupation. The $5 billion package involves construction projects, student grants and pensions for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during World War II.
In return, Libya agreed to crack down on the thousands of illegal migrants smuggled each year across the Mediterranean to Italy