Editing Muammar Gaddafi (section)

====Rebuilding links with the West====
[[File:Muammar al-Gaddafi at the AU summit.jpg|thumb|left|Gaddafi at the AU summit]]
In 1999, Libya began secret talks with the British government to normalize relations.{{sfn|Vandewalle|2008a|p=215}} In 2001, Gaddafi publicly condemned the [[September 11 attacks]] on the US by [[al-Qaeda]], expressing sympathy with the victims and calling for Libyan involvement in the US-led [[War on Terror]] against militant Islamism.{{sfnm|1a1=Vandewalle|1y=2008a|1p=220|2a1=St. John|2y=2008|2p=101|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3p=176|4a1=St. John|4y=2012|4p=243}} His government continued suppressing domestic Islamism, at the same time as Gaddafi called for the wider application of ''sharia'' law.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=254}} Libya also cemented connections with China and North Korea, being visited by Chinese President [[Jiang Zemin]] in April 2002.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=235}} However, relations with China became strained in May 2006 due to a visit to Tripoli by Taiwanese President [[Chen Shui-bian]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2006 |title=China blasts Libya over Taiwan president's visit |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2006-05-11-china-blasts-libya-over-taiwan-presidents-visit/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203104754/https://mg.co.za/article/2006-05-11-china-blasts-libya-over-taiwan-presidents-visit/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Koike |first=Yuriko |title=China's African mischief |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2011/10/3/chinas-african-mischief |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203104754/https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2011/10/3/chinas-african-mischief |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 May 2006 |title=Taiwan's Chen stops over in Libya |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4760471.stm |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203104754/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4760471.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Influenced by the events of the [[Iraq War]], in December 2003, Libya renounced its possession of [[Weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]], [[Disarmament of Libya|decommissioning its chemical and nuclear weapons programs]].{{sfnm|1a1=Vandewalle|1y=2006|1p=8|2a1=Vandewalle|2y=2008a|2p=217|3a1=Kawczynski|3y=2011|3pp=162, 184|4a1=St. John|4y=2012|4p=244|5a1=Kamel|5y=2016|5p=694}} Relations with the US improved as a result.{{sfnm|1a1=Kawczynski|1y=2011|1pp=178–179|2a1=St. John|2y=2012|2p=245}} British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] visited Gaddafi in March 2004;{{sfnm|1a1=Kawczynski|1y=2011|1pp=240–241|2a1=St. John|2y=2012|2pp=240–241}} the pair developed close personal ties.{{sfn|Zoubir|2009|p=412}} In 2003, Libya paid US$2.7 billion to the families of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing as it was the condition the US and UK had made for terminating the remaining UN sanctions. Libya continued to deny any role in the bombing.{{sfnm|1a1=Boyd-Judson|1y=2005|1p=91|2a1=St. John|2y=2008|2p=101}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Europa World Year: Kazakhstan – Zimbabwe, Volume 2|page=2655|publisher=Routledge|quote=Secretary of the GPC, Shukri Muhammad Ghanem.... claimed that compensation was being paid to the families of the Lockerbie victims in order to 'buy peace' and avoid sanctions and that the country did not accept responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing}}</ref> In 2009, Gaddafi attempted to strong-arm global energy companies operating in Libya to cover Libya's settlement with the families of the victims of Lockerbie.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last1=Lichtblau |first1=Eric |last2=Rohde |first2=David |last3=Risen |first3=James |date=24 March 2011 |title=Shady Dealings Helped Qaddafi Build Fortune and Regime |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/africa/24qaddafi.html |access-date=5 March 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328111448/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/africa/24qaddafi.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Vladimir Putin and Muammar Gaddafi.ogv|thumb|Video showing the meeting with Russian Prime Minister [[Vladimir Putin]] and Muammar Gaddafi, in 2008]]

In 2004, Gaddafi traveled to the headquarters of the [[European Union]] (EU) in [[Brussels]]—signifying improved relations between Libya and the EU—and the EU dropped its sanctions on Libya.{{sfnm|1a1=Kawczynski|1y=2011|1p=175|2a1=St. John|2y=2008|2p=101|3a1=St. John|3y=2012|3p=237}} As a strategic player in Europe's attempts to stem illegal migration from Africa,{{sfn|Zoubir|2009|p=408}} in October 2010, the EU paid Libya over €50&nbsp;million to stop African migrants passing into Europe; Gaddafi encouraged the move, saying that it was necessary to prevent the loss of European cultural identity to a new "Black Europe".{{sfnm|1a1=St. John|1y=2012|1p=274|2a1=Kamel|2y=2016|2p=684}} Gaddafi also completed agreements with the Italian government that they would invest in various infrastructure projects as reparations for past Italian colonial policies in Libya.{{sfn|Zoubir|2009|p=410}} Italian Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] gave Libya an official apology in 2006, after which Gaddafi called him the "iron man" for his courage in doing so.{{sfn|Zoubir|2009|pp=410–411}} In August 2008, Gaddafi and Berlusconi signed a historic cooperation [[treaty]] in [[Benghazi]];<ref name="treaty">{{cite web |url=http://www.senato.it/parlam/leggi/09007l.htm |title=Ratifica ed esecuzione del Trattato di amicizia, partenariato e cooperazione tra la Repubblica italiana e la Grande Giamahiria araba libica popolare socialista, fatto a Bengasi il 30 August 2008 |language=it |publisher=[[Parliament of Italy]] press release |date=6 February 2009 |access-date=10 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618082911/http://www.senato.it/parlam/leggi/09007l.htm |archive-date=18 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="ansa">{{cite news |url=http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-06-09_109379246.html |publisher=[[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata|ANSA]] |title=Gaddafi to Rome for Historic Visit |date=10 June 2009 |access-date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616155752/http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-06-09_109379246.html |archive-date=16 June 2009 }}</ref> under its terms, Italy would pay $5&nbsp;billion to Libya as compensation for its former [[Italian Libya|military occupation]]. In exchange, Libya would take measures to combat [[illegal immigration]] coming from its shores and boost investment in Italian companies.<ref name=ansa /><ref name="rep">{{cite news |newspaper=[[La Repubblica]] |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/05/sezioni/esteri/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html |title=Italia-Libia, firmato l'accordo |language=it |date=30 August 2008 |access-date=10 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000538/http://www.repubblica.it/2008/05/sezioni/esteri/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

After the US removed Libya from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2006,{{sfn|Kawczynski|2011|p=176}} Gaddafi nevertheless continued his anti-Western rhetoric. At the [[2008 Arab League summit]], held in Syria, he warned fellow Arab leaders that they could be overthrown and executed by the US like [[Saddam Hussein]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Friedman |first=Uri |date=24 August 2011 |title=Qaddafi Warns Chuckling Arab Leaders in 2008 That Their End Is Near |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/08/watch-qaddafi-warn-laughing-arab-leaders-their-end-near/338775/ |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204075415/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/08/watch-qaddafi-warn-laughing-arab-leaders-their-end-near/338775/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaddafi condemns Arab leaders |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2008/3/29/gaddafi-condemns-arab-leaders |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722161642/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2008/03/200861501453203859.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[Second Africa-South America Summit]], held in Venezuela in September 2009, he called for a military alliance across Africa and Latin America to rival NATO.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gaddafi Proposed the Creation of a South Atlantic Military Alliance |website=MercoPress |date=28 September 2009 |url=http://en.mercopress.com/2009/09/28/gaddafi-proposed-the-creation-of-a-south-atlantic-military-alliance |access-date=13 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218192040/http://en.mercopress.com/2009/09/28/gaddafi-proposed-the-creation-of-a-south-atlantic-military-alliance |archive-date=18 February 2010 }}</ref> That same month he traveled to New York City and addressed the [[United Nations General Assembly]] for the first time on 23 September 2009, using it to condemn "Western aggression," and spoke for just over 90 minutes instead of the allotted 15.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=276}}<ref>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=MacFarquhar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/world/24nations.html |title=Libyan Leader Delivers a Scolding in U.N. Debut |date=23 September 2009 |access-date=28 June 2012 |website=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606071635/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/world/24nations.html |archive-date=6 June 2017 }}</ref> In the Spring of 2010, Gaddafi proclaimed ''jihad'' against Switzerland after Swiss police accused two of his family members of criminal activity in the country, resulting in the breakdown of bilateral relations.{{sfn|St. John|2012|p=274}}

Gaddafi allegedly financed [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] in the [[2007 French presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 2018 |title=French police hold ex-president Sarkozy over 'Gaddafi funding' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43469316 |access-date=4 February 2023 |archive-date=20 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320180502/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43469316 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matamoros |first=Cristina Abellan |date=20 March 2018 |title=Sarkozy funding scandal: what does it all mean? |url=https://www.euronews.com/2018/03/20/sarkozy-in-libya-case-what-does-it-all-mean- |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=euronews |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204080913/https://www.euronews.com/2018/03/20/sarkozy-in-libya-case-what-does-it-all-mean- |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2018 |title=Gaddafi relations haunt Sarkozy in 2007 campaign financing case |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20180320-france-libya-sarkozy-gaddafi-relations-haunt-2007-campaign-financing-case-custody |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204080912/https://www.france24.com/en/20180320-france-libya-sarkozy-gaddafi-relations-haunt-2007-campaign-financing-case-custody |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 2014 |title=Gaddafi funded 'mentally deficient' Sarkozy, interview claims |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20140128-france-sarkozy-gaddafi-campaign-funds-libya-television |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204080913/https://www.france24.com/en/20140128-france-sarkozy-gaddafi-campaign-funds-libya-television |url-status=live }}</ref> He also financed Austrian far-right politician [[Jörg Haider]] starting in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Martin A. |date=13 August 2000 |title=Ties That Bind Kadafi and Neo-Fascists |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-13-op-3534-story.html |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204080913/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-13-op-3534-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Austria investigates Haider links |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/8/3/austria-investigates-haider-links |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204080913/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/8/3/austria-investigates-haider-links |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaddafi backs 'friend' Haider |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/1343369/Gaddafi-backs-friend-Haider.html |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk |date=16 June 2000 |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204080913/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/1343369/Gaddafi-backs-friend-Haider.html |url-status=live }}</ref>