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The World From Berlin

Sarkozy's Libya Nuke Deal 'A European Disgrace'

Part 2: 'Gadhafi Remains an Unscrupulous Despot'

The conservative daily Die Welt writes:

"Gadhafi remains an unscrupulous despot in his economically underdeveloped country. But neither Gadhafi's agenda nor the EU's dispute with Iran seem to bother French President Nicolas Sarkozy … he wants to position himself as a European -- if not world -- leader."

"Gadhafi is perfect for a number of reasons: Libya can offer France oil and contracts worth billions for the French nuclear industry. And Sarkozy can revive his favourite topic of a Mediterranean Union, which would now include Libya. By building a bridge across the Mediterranean, Sarkozy is attempting to avert France's loss of importance in an enlarged European Union that has moved to the east. The Mediterranean Union that Sarkozy envisages would also include Turkey, which would then not be an EU member. And post-colonial France would also be able to win more power in the Mediterranean."

"But with this combination of nationalist, geo-strategic and private interests, Sarozky is not doing France, the EU or the Mediterranean Union any favors. The idea of bringing those nations who are fascinated with Europe -- but whose entry is still almost impossible -- closer to the EU is basically sensible. But Sarkozy's tactics could end up casting the whole idea in a negative light."

The left-wing Die Tageszeitung -- whose front cover Friday shows a photograph of Gadhafi under the headline "Would You Sell This Man a Nuclear Power Plant?" -- writes:

"If the EU ever had anything that could be called a credible human rights policy, then we can definitely wave goodbye to it now. Because Sarkozy's Libya trip and his nuclear and military deals are not just the embarrassing sequel to the farce called 'How the Sarkozys Saved the Bulgarian Nurses.' It is a European disgrace."

"Libya is still a dictatorship, where no opposition or freedom of opinion is permitted. That alone should be enough to keep economic relations down to a minimum."

"Obviously all European decision-makers care about is not being left behind in the global fight for natural resources, markets and spheres of influence. Human rights abuses are somewhat troubling, but President Sarkozy has just displayed the ease with which the threshold can be lowered."

The left-leaning Berliner Zeitung writes:

"The humanitarian women's program in Tripoli was followed by the appearance of two very masculine men. With puffed-out chests, steady strides and serious faces, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy played the role of important politicians. France was including Libya in the circle of respectable nations, for all the world to see, helping the reformed rogue to rearm and promising him a nuclear reactor."

"For its part, Libya is supposed to keep the flood of migrants away from Europe, or at least control them better, and to fight terrorism, an area with which Gadhafi is only too familiar. To everyone's delight, access is now open to Libya's oil supplies."

"Yesterday's enemy is today's friend. Gadhafi has pledged to abandon terrorism. But can this man who loves dodging and weaving be trusted? The negotiations on the release of the Bulgarian nurses inspired mistrust more than anything else. There is nothing wrong with trading with Libya, normalizing relations and doing everything possible to make the country more open. But nuclear reactors and weapons are hardly suitable at this stage of the game."

-- Siobhán Dowling, 4:00 p.m. CET

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