Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
97ROME4528
1997-05-21 14:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
QADHAFI JUST WANTS TO BE FRIENDS WITH EUROPE
how-toR 211400Z MAY 97 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7570 INFO AMCONSUL NAPLES AMCONSUL MILAN AMCONSUL FLORENCE ALL EUROPEAN UNION POST COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY TUNIS AMEMBASSY RABAT AMEMBASSY NIAMEY AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA AMEMBASSY ALGIERS AMEMBASSY CAIRO
UNCLAS ROME 004528
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL XI LY IT
SUBJECT: QADHAFI JUST WANTS TO BE FRIENDS WITH EUROPE
THE ITALIAN NEWS SERVICE ANSA DATELINED TRIPOLI
MAY 19 REPORTED THAT LIBYAN LEADER QADHAFI
PUBLICLY SAID HE IS READY TO UPHOLD A ''FRIENDSHIP
WITH EUROPE'' BASED ON RECIPROCAL RESPECT AND
INDEPENDENCE FROM THE U.S. ACCORDING TO ANSA,
QADHAFI SAID THAT HE IS ''IN LINE WITH THE
THINKING OF EUROPEAN LEADERS WHO WOULD LIKE
INDEPENDENCE FROM THE UNITED STATES.'' HE ADDED
THAT HE ''SUPPORTS THE FRENCH PRESIDENT AND THE
GERMAN CHANCELLOR WHO ARE AT THE HEAD OF THIS
EUROPEAN MOVEMENT AWAY FROM AMERICAN CONTROL, AND
WHO REPRESENT THE NUCLEUS OF THE EUROPEAN
MILITARY FORCE (EUROFORCE).'' QADHAFI ALSO AGAIN
CALLED FOR ARAB UNITY, SAYING THAT ''IT WOULD BE
GOOD FOR ARAB COUNTRIES TO CREATE THEIR OWN
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND MILITARY FORCE, AND TO
ESTABLISH RELATIONS WITH EUROPE. WE WILL SUPPORT
THIS PROCESS.''
BARTHOLOMEW