The Independent first Western newspaper to visit Libya since sanctions were lifted
Gaddafi deals with his demons
The Independent on Sunday, April 18
Despite all the anti-US rhetoric, Libya is set to talk
business with the so-called 'enemies of science and
education', learns Alex Duval Smith
LIBYA will maintain an outwardly defiant stance
towards the United States and to a lesser extent
Britain, despite the suspension of sanctions imposed
over the Lockerbie bombing. But behind the scenes
Muammar Gaddafi's regime plans talks with both
countries.
During the first visit by a Western newspaper to
Libya and its leader, Colonel Gaddafi, since sanctions
were lifted two weeks ago, The Independent on
Sunday also learned of lucrative trade deals in the
offing.
Ahmed Ibrahim, a government spokesman, said on
television last week that Libya should have "two
foreign policies - one for friendly countries and one
for enemies". In an outburst during a speech in his
Bedouin marquee in the Sahara, Col Gaddafi made it
clear which category the US fell into: it was, he said,
"an enemy of science and education".
The "friendly countries", said Mr Ibrahim, were those
in Africa and the Middle East which breached the
ban on commercial flights during seven years of
United Nations sanctions. Foremost is South Africa,
which helped broker the handover two weeks ago,
for trial in the Netherlands of two men accused by
Britain and the US of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.
The explosion aboard Pan Am 103, bound for New
York from Frankfurt, killed 270 people on 21
December 1988. In 1992, the UN imposed air and
arms embargos against Libya and later ordered some
of the country's assets to be frozen until the
handover of Lamin Khalifa Fhimah and Abdelbasset
Ali el-Megrahi.
But Libya's stated defiance may be mere rhetoric.
Despite seven years of internal propaganda, during
which "imperialism and its agents" were demonised,
Ali Triki, Libya's foreign minister for Africa, said in
an interview that talks would start soon in New York
with Britain and the US. "The three countries are
looking forward to normalising relations and boosting
trade," he said.
It is believed that lucrative contracts, including a
$16bn (£10bn) purchase of Airbuses by Libyan Arab
Airlines, will be woven into the talks, which are
conditional on UN sanctions - currently suspended -
being permanently lifted. "Friendly countries" will get
a head start in re-establishing air links: South African
Airways is due to start its service this week.
The New York talks will be an opportunity for
Western human rights groups to press for greater
access to Libya. The mostly urban population lives in
comfort, with oil revenues paying for free health
care, schooling, rent-free housing and subsidised food
and cars, but the country has no political opposition.
Fearing police brutality as a result of denunciation by
fellow citizens - a means of achieving favours such
as cars and better housing - ordinary people are
terrified of discussing politics.
Col Gaddafi, now 57, is celebrating his 30th year
since overthrowing King Idris and becoming "Guide
of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah"
(country of the masses). He can be found, far from
his people but close to his Gaddafa tribal roots, in the
desert near his birthplace, Sirte.
You only come to Sirte, 280 miles east of Tripoli, by
appointment. That is abundantly clear as you
approach from the air the desert runway ringed with
bunkers, tank pits and anti-aircraft artillery. Last
Wednesday Col Gaddafi was busy. Sirte airport was
jammed with private jets as African leaders flew in
for "Brother Leader's" blessing, maybe funding, or
instructions even.
The former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda,
facing a witch-hunt in his own country, stripped of
his citizenship and possibly needing funds for his
Supreme Court appeal, was there. Frederico Mayor,
secretary general of Unesco, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation,
came to present a medal to Col Gaddafi for giving
$1.4m towards a 35-year project for African
historians to write the history of their continent. The
leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Central
African Republic, Eritrea, Sudan and the new Prime
Minister of Niger also came for a meeting of
Comessa - a year-old, Libyan-initiated group of
Saharan states.
Col Gaddafi, wearing a beige gown, held court far
from the airport, in a large white marquee buffeted
by the Saharan wind. From a large pink armchair
resting on Persian carpets, he launched an
anti-American rant as the electric lightbulbs swung
overhead. By his side was his aluminium crutch, a
constant prop since last year, when, according to
unofficial reports, he was attacked by Chadian
Islamists.
"The Western perspective of Africa is of a slave
market - an undeveloped, backward people who lack
civilisation and culture. That is why the world acts as
it does against Africans. So when this world
organisation [Unesco] took the right approach, the
United States boycotted that organisation," said the
Libyan leader, referring to the American withdrawal
14 years ago from Unesco, followed by Britain
(which has recently rejoined).
"That shows that America is an enemy of science
and education. World culture and civilisation are not
hostage to the US," he said.
There was no mention of Lockerbie; Col Gaddafi will
not talk about it. Nor will he denounce acts of
terrorism - indeed, he recently justified them: "in a
certain time and place, when we were at war".
It is not clear how firm is his hold on power. He rules
by tribal favouritism, and there is speculation that he
is edging towards handing over to one of his two
sons. But diplomats who know Libya well sense
changes afoot which are not of his making.
With sanctions, he could hide and he could demonise
America, said a European diplomat in Tripoli.
"Libyan people are poorly educated and ripe for the
promises of the Islamists, who are waiting in Algeria,
Tunisia and Egypt. The West and Europe should
realise that it is in their interest to take an interest in
Libya now."
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