Editing Silvio Berlusconi (section)

=== Relations with Libya ===
On 30 August 2008, the Libyan leader [[Muammar 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 agosto 2008|language=it|publisher=[[Italian Parliament]] 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><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=2335|title=Berlusconi in Benghazi, Unwelcome by Son of Omar Al-Mukhtar|work=[[The Tripoli Post]]|date=30 August 2008 |access-date=10 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225659/http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=2335 |archive-date=2 December 2013}}</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> The treaty was ratified by the Italian government on 6 February 2009,<ref name=treaty/> and by Libya on 2 March, during a visit to [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] by Berlusconi.<ref name=ansa/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alarabonline.org/english/display.asp?fname=2009%5C03%5C03-02%5Czbusinessz%5C988.htm&dismode=x&ts=02/03/2009%2004:42:49%20ã |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618080801/http://www.alarabonline.org/english/display.asp?fname=2009%5C03%5C03-02%5Czbusinessz%5C988.htm&dismode=x&ts=02%2F03%2F2009%2004%3A42%3A49%20%C3%A3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 June 2009|title=Libya agrees pact with Italy to boost investment|date=2 March 2009 |access-date=10 June 2009|publisher=[[Al-Arab]]}}</ref> Berlusconi apologised for [[Italian war crimes#Pacification of Libya|Italy's actions]] during the [[Italian colonisation of Libya]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Italy apologises to Libya for colonial era damage |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/italy-apologises-to-libya-for-colonial-era-damage-20080831-466b.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 August 2008 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=14 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614103022/https://www.smh.com.au/world/italy-apologises-to-libya-for-colonial-era-damage-20080831-466b.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In June Gaddafi made his first visit to Rome, where he met Berlusconi, President of the Italian Republic [[Giorgio Napolitano]] and [[Italian Senate|Senate's Speaker]] [[Renato Schifani]].<ref name=ansa/>

[[File:G8 summit in L'Aquila, family photo.jpg|thumb|Berlusconi (left) and Gaddafi (right) attending the [[35th G8 summit|G-8 Summit]] in [[L'Aquila]] in 2009]]

When Gaddafi faced a [[2011 Libyan civil war|civil war]] in 2011, Italy imposed a freeze on some Libyan assets linked to him and his family, pursuant to a United Nations-sponsored regime<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-08/italy-sanctions-on-qaddafi-stop-short-of-curtailing-libya-controlled-bank.html|title=Italian Sanctions Against Qaddafi Stop Short of Libyan-Owned Banca UBAE|last=Martinuzzi|first=Elisa|author2=Totaro, Lorenzo|date=8 March 2011|work=[[Bloomberg LP]]|access-date=11 March 2011|archive-date=5 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305103454/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-08/italy-sanctions-on-qaddafi-stop-short-of-curtailing-libya-controlled-bank.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and then [[2011 military intervention in Libya|bombed the country]] with the violation of Libya of the [[No-Fly Zone]]. However, Berlusconi spoke out against [[NATO]]-led [[Timeline of the 2011 military intervention in Libya|military intervention into Libya]].<ref>[http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=201981 Gaddafi was loved by his people] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622083455/http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=201981 |date=22 June 2012 }}. ''The Daily Star''.net (11 September 2011). Retrieved 16 August 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/i-was-against-libya-intervention-berlusconi-1.1095328 I was against Libya intervention: Berlusconi – Africa | IOL News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701023736/http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/i-was-against-libya-intervention-berlusconi-1.1095328 |date=1 July 2012 }}. IOL.co.za (7 July 2011). Retrieved 16 August 2013.</ref>