Libya and Switzerland had very close bussiness and bilateral relations in the past. Bussinessmen from Libya established bank accounts in Switzerland and Switzerland was oil supplied by Libya in spite of 1982 embargo on Libyan petrol.
Reaction of Libya was prompt. Muammar al-Gaddafi withdraw $5 billion from his
Swiss bank, shutted
down local swiss companies, canceled commercial flights between states and arrested two Swiss bussinessmen, Max Goeldi and Rachid Hamdani, for violation of visa rules. One of them Max Goeldi was in February 2010 sentenced to four months in prison.
To get released Swiss Bussinessmen, Swiss President Hans Rudilf Merz traveled in August 2009 to Tripoli to apologize for arrests, what was criticized by Swiss public, which called for his resignation.Thi Swiss authorities were considering possibility to use secret forces to release Swiss citizens as well.
Max Goeldi was freed from prison in 12 of Juny 2010. On 13 of June 2010 in Tripoli, Libya and Switzerland signed a ‘plan of action’ (Spain and Germany signatores also), to end their bilateral diplomatic impasse.
This plan of action includes:
-a tribunal will be created to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arest in Geneva of Hannibal Gaddafi in July 2008, to which then Swiss President agreed in principle in August 2009
-Switzerland will offer Libya an official apology for the theft of a police mug shot of Hannibal Gaddafi from police files, and for their publication
in the Tribune de Geneve newspaper, and those who stole tha material will be prosecuted
-Max Goledi`s request for a judical pardon from Libya will be expedited
(genevalumch.com, update 3, 14 June Bern, Switzerland)
In November 2009, voters in Switzerland expresed their oppinion in referendum, from which 57
% voted against minarets in Switzerland. Mr Gaddafi had criticised that vote and said, that Muslims have
to boycott Switzerland. "Let us wage jihad against Switzerland, Zionism and foreign aggression," he said, what Swiss Foreign Ministry
spokesman refused to comment.
(bbc.co.uk, Libya's Gaddafi urges 'holy war' against Switzerland, 26 February 2010)
According to thebroken diplomatic relations, in February 2010, Libya has stopped to issue erty visa to national of any european country within Schengen agreement, except United Kingdom, what was related to Switzerland blacklisting 188 high rank officials including Gaddafi and his family.
This never-ending story was result of inadequate behavior of son of Libyan leader. Situation known as “Gaddfi`s affair” simply said, was just revange for arresting of Hannibal Gaddafi by Swiss authoriries. Since that time, Muammar al-Gaddafi did not miss out one situation to hit Switzerland back. According to the view of expert on islam Reinhard Schulze from University of Bern, Gaddafi is trying to present hisself as a leader of muslim world, but majority of muslims do not take him seriously.
Hi Jojo - can I just suggest you use the same font and size for the whole of your post? I find it is a bit difficult to read otherwise...
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting blog - I was completely unaware of the so-called Gaddafi Affair!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would suggest that you try and analize what kind of larger implications this example of the now difficult swiss-libyan relationship could have for diplomacy in general. I would say your blog is a little bit too descriptive!
Good job nonetheless! You taught me some interesting facts! :)
Your post is very fascinating. However,I feel that if Hannibal Gaddafi was guilty, I don't see the harm in the police arresting him.There was no need to create such a hue and cry.Being Hannibal Gaddafi, I'm sure he would have had diplomatic immunity as well. It was wrong for Gaddafi to show such protest. I feel, he should understand that his son is not in his own country,but in a foreign one. He brought on the arrest on himself and Gaddafi behaved like a stubborn child.
ReplyDelete