Gaddafi Urges EU To Pay $6.3 Billion For Libya To Stop Illegal Immigration

Rome, Italy (AHN) – Just a day after the Libyan leader suggested Europeans to convert to Islam during an Italian visit, Col. Muammar Gaddafi on Tuesday told the European Union to pay Libya at least $6.3 billion annually if it wants the African nation to stop illegal immigration and avoid a “black Europe.”

His comments came on his last day of his Italian state trip where he had gone to mark the second anniversary of their friendship treaty.

“We don’t know what will be the reaction of the white and Christian Europeans faced with this influx of starving and ignorant Africans,” Gaddafi said in a ceremony in presence of Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi. “We don’t know if Europe will remain an advanced and united continent or if it will be destroyed, as happened with the barbarian invasions,” he added.

Talking to reporters, Col Gaddafi said that millions of Africans want to migrate to Europe, which could turn the continent into another Africa.

According to EU’s Eurodac fingerprinting system, the number of illegal immigrants fell to 7,300 last year compared to 32,052 in 2008. This happened after Italy’s center right Berlusconi government launched a controversial push-back policy under which it sent back the captured immigrants to Libya without screening them.

Berlusconi remained silent on Gaddafi’s payment demand. Premier Berlusconi also expressed gratitude to Gaddafi for boosting bilateral relations between Rome and Tripoli.

Meanwhile, pro-Vatican politicians and left politicians slammed the government for not protesting against Gaddafi’s recent comments on converting Italians to Islam.

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