Only three days after Italy’s reparatory treaty with Libya to compensate the African country for damages during the colonial period, France says there cannot be a precedent.
The treaty which sought to apologise to Libyans also promised to pay a US$ 5 million compensation over a period of 25 years. Speaking at the occasion, Kadhafi said the treaty was historic and stressed that the ceremony marked the defeat of colonialism. “Tyranny has a price which must be borne by the perpetrators,”
On Tuesday, however, France, an ex colonial force in Africa, declared through the office of the representative of the spokesperson of the French Foreign Ministry that the treaty “is strictly an arrangement between Italy and Libya” and is expected “to enhance relations between Libya and the international community, including European”.
“The said developments relate to a particular aspect of the bilateral relations between Italy and Libya,” Eric Knight told newsmen.
Libyan leader Mouammar Kadhafi and the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi , Saturday in Benghazi signed a treaty of friendship and co-operation regarding compensations for the Libyans for the losses they suffered during the colonial period.
Under the treaty, Italy will also build a coastal motorway to connect Libya’s western and eastern parts of the country, and clean up the Libya of land mines.
Rome is also committed to provide Tripoli with information on the fate of about 5,000 Libyans who went on exile (living in uninhabited Italian islands) during the Italian invasion of Libya.
