Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 25, 2007

French President to Meet Libya's Gadhafi
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1841687:A6F02AD83191E16093D45AA534A2B1BB9574F7DCC14957C0 Nicolas Sarkozy
agreed to visit as part of deal to free 6 medical workers convicted of
infecting hundreds of children in Libyan hospital with AIDS French
President Nicolas Sarkozy is heading to Libya, Wednesday, to meet
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Mr. Sarkozy agreed to the visit as part
of a deal made yesterday to free six medical workers convicted of
infecting hundreds of children in a Libyan hospital with AIDS. For
VOA, Anita Elash reports from Paris.







The Bulgarian nurses and medic pose in front of the French
presidential plane after their arrival at the Sofia airport, 24 July
2007French President Nicolas Sarkozy is meeting Libyan leader Moammar
Gadhafi in Tripoli to improve relations following the release of six
medical workers on Tuesday.

The six were flown from Tripoli to Sofia early on Tuesday at the end
of a trip to Libya by Mr. Sarkozy's wife Cecilia and the EU's External
Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Reports say that Mr. Gadhafi invited Mr. Sarkozy to Libya several
times during negotiations to free the medical workers. However, the
French president said he would only come once they were released.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU could
now begin to normalize trade and political ties with Libya.

Mr. Sarkozy describes the trip as a political visit, made possible by
the agreement.







Nicholas Sarkozy talks to reporters in Paris, 24 July 2007He told
reporters that, now that the medial workers are free, he wants to look
to the future. Mr. Sarkozy says he hopes to sign several accords with
the Libyan leader, but did not say in which areas.

News reports say that Mr. Sarkozy could sign agreements on security,
immigration, energy and scientific research. And, he wants more
support in to stem the flow of illegal immigrants crossing into
southern Europe from North Africa.

France hopes to convince Libya to become part of a Mediterranean Union
that would unite all countries that border the Mediterranean. Libya
also holds huge economic potential, especially because of its oil
reserves. Reports from Brussels say that, as part of the EU's
incentive package, France offered to build a highway from Libya and
Tunisia and pledged to sell arms to Tripoli.


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