Middle East Politics.Net » Italy http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Libyan Interest in Western Investment http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/06/libyan-interest-in-western-investment/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/06/libyan-interest-in-western-investment/#comments Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:00:51 +0000 dcrowley http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3794 According to the Italian Foreign Minister, Libya along with the UAE has expressed interest in Telecom Italia. The foreign minister told Reuters, “For now, we’ve had explorations, contacts which have not translated into a concrete interest. There is an interest in the infrastructure, tourism and transport sectors. Libya is interested.” During the recent financial crisis, Libya has been able to supply many western companies with necessary capital. Because of the close relations with Italy, Libya is very interested in investing in Italian companies, and according to the Libyan ambassador to Italy, Libya is interested in five or six Italian companies. However, Libya is only interested in companies without debt problems, which probably means the it is no longer interested in Telecom Italia, which has a significant amount of debt. Update.

David Crowley

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/06/libyan-interest-in-western-investment/feed/ 0 Libya Shopping for Weapons http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/12/libya-shopping-for-weapons/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/12/libya-shopping-for-weapons/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:56:09 +0000 dcrowley http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2319 Since 2003, the Libyan government has developed friendly relations with the rest of the world, and with this the prospect of trade has vastly increased for the North African country. In particular, Libya is seeking a supplier for modern weapons from many European countries. During the Soviet era, Libya received aircraft, small arms and missiles from that source, however this ended after the fall of the Soviet Union. Because Libya is now relatively friendly with many European powers, it has the ability to shop around for these weapons.

Libya and Russia created closer ties recently and according to the Associated Press, $4.5 billion in debt was written off by Russia in exchange for a lucrative petroleum and railway contract. The two countries have also recently signed a “deal on cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy.” Increasing ties since the collapse of the USSR have made Russia a viable supplier of these weapons again.

However, Russia is not Libya’s only source of weapons. Gadhafi recently undertook week-long tour of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and with their Soviet era weapons factories, Belarus and Ukraine have become strong competitors in the market for weapons. As well,  Gadhafi claims that he has received offers from Britain, France and Italy, allowing Libya to seek the best price.

David Crowley

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/12/libya-shopping-for-weapons/feed/ 0 Cooperation between Libya and Italy Leads to Genetic Testing http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/29/cooperation-between-libya-and-italy-leads-to-genetic-testing/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/29/cooperation-between-libya-and-italy-leads-to-genetic-testing/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:28:06 +0000 dcrowley http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1838 Libya marks the anniversary of Libyans exiled to Italy during its colonial years on Monday. The Libyan flag was flown at half mast and the population was asked to wear black clothes in remembrance. As well, all traffic was stopped for five minutes at noon; the first periods of all education institutions were spent discussing the issue; all international transportation was canceled for the day; and the post office was closed.

What is especially interesting is the status of the inhabitants of the Italian Termiti Islands, one of the places where the exiled Libyans were sent. Apparently blood samples were given by the Italian government in order to determine if there are any descendants of the exiled Libyans still living on the Termiti Islands. The blood samples will be examined and compared “to the Libyan genetic map in response to the request of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to help identify the children and grandchildren of exiled Libyans.”

David Crowley


]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/29/cooperation-between-libya-and-italy-leads-to-genetic-testing/feed/ 0 Yemen’s Food Crisis: Global Alleviation Efforts http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/09/26/yemens-food-crisis-global-alleviation-efforts/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/09/26/yemens-food-crisis-global-alleviation-efforts/#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:29:45 +0000 hootstei http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=966 On September 25, 2008, The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced the launch of an emergency response program to facilitate the ongoing food crisis in Yemen. The program is the result of a recent investigation that revealed a dramatic decrease in food security among Yemen’s population due to the global rise in food prices. Yemen is one of the countries that has been hit the hardest by the international crisis. It was revealed that in a single year, the price of wheat (which is the main staple in the Yemeni diet) increased from $350 to $650 per 1000 kg.

As a result, many countries are stepping in to facilitate. More specifically, the Italian government contributed 5 million Euros to launch operations that will help feed over one million people in Yemen. The Italian Ambassador to Yemen describes the contribution as “yet another illustration of the excellent level of cooperation with WFP.” Italy’s contribution is the second largest direct donation to WFP’s fund to help end Yemen’s food crisis. (In August 2008, Germany donated 10 million Euros to WFP to address food security and nutrition in Yemen). Mohamed el-Kouhene, WFP’s Representative in Yemen stated the importance of this global initiative: “This new operation, along with ongoing development and humanitarian relief activities in the country, will raise WFP’s portfolio to above $120 million, providing food assistance to over 1.5 million people, an unprecedented level of support to vulnerable families in Yemen.”

This initiative is an interesting example of looking at a global issue (the international food crisis) and zeroing in on how one country, such as Yemen, has been particularly affected. Moreover, it’s important to look beyond Yemen’s borders to understand how the international community facilitates help. What are the motivations behind the country’s actions? Why was have Germany and Italy made the largest contributions? What other factors are operating in this situation?

Jenna Hootstein

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/09/26/yemens-food-crisis-global-alleviation-efforts/feed/ 0 Libyan Jews Want Reparations Too http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/09/18/libyan-jews-want-reparations-too/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/09/18/libyan-jews-want-reparations-too/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:54:51 +0000 dcrowley http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=635 In a recent post, Roy Dickson reported that Italy announced its intentions to compensate Libya, an amount of $5 billion, for years of colonial rule and the harsh treatment of Libyans under Mussolini.

It has now been revealed that the World Organization of Libyan Jews has requested that a portion of the funds should be given to Jews who lived in Libya under Italian rule, and eventually migrated to Israel by 1967. In a letter by the chairman of the organization, Meir Kahakon, to the current prime minister of Italy, Kahakon states, “we believe Italy owes the Jews of Libya compensation for the suffering and pain engraved into our flesh to this day.” Libyan Jews faced the same damages under Italian colonialism, as well as dehumanization during WWII when they were shipped to forced labor and concentration camps. Therefore they deserve a portion of the funds Italy is giving for those very actions.

Kahakon also sent a letter to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi demanding a portion of the funds be transferred as soon as they arrive.

David Crowley

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