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6 THE JAPAN TIMES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 (3)

Libya revolution day

Discourse improves with high-level meetings

Yuriko KoikeCHAIRPERSON, JAPAN-LIBYA FRIENDSHIP

ASSOCIATION

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On the occasion of the 41stanniversary of the Al-FatehRevolution, aschairperson ofthe Japan-LibyaFriendshipAssociation, Iam pleased tosend mywarmest wishesandcongratulations to the leadershipand the people of Libya.

After I became thechairperson of our association inJune 2009, I had an opportunityto visit Libya in November 2009as the head of an economicdelegation with 26 businessexecutives. The warm welcomewe received in Libya wasextraordinary. We had the

privilege of meeting with TheBrother Leader MoammarGadhafi and eight key ministersof the Libyan government andexchanged frank opinions aboutthe future relationship betweenour two countries. We alsodiscussed the importance ofcooperation between Libya andJapan for the development ofAfrica. Brother Leader asked forJapan’s support in building amodel environmentally friendlycity in Libya.

At the end of that year, I hadan opportunity to welcomeBrother Leader during an eventhosted by the Institute of Peaceand Disarmament of MeijiUniversity, which he joinedthrough satellite.

Around the same time, anarrangement to establish the firstjoint venture company betweenthe Libyan government and theJapanese manufacturing

companies was signed.Early this year, Libya played a

pivotal role in the decision toreject a proposal at theConvention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Species ofWild Fauna and Flora (CITES).This news was welcomed by thepeople of Japan.

These are only the beginningsof the successful relationshipbetween Japan and Libya. Istrongly believe that thepartnership between our twocountries will bring mutualprosperity, and as thechairperson, I assure that ourassociation will continue topromote further exchangesbetween Libya and Japan.

Lastly, I would like to expressmy sincere appreciation of ourpartner, the Libyan People’sBureau in Tokyo, for theircontinuous support of ouractivities.

Mutual interest keys important friendshipAnagih A. B. AnagihCHARGE D’AFFAIRES A.I., PEOPLE’S

BUREAU OF THE GREAT SOCIALIST

PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA

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On the auspicious occasion ofthe 41st anniversary of theGreat Sept. 1 Al-Fateh Revolu-tion of the Great Socialist Peo-ple’s Libyan Arab Jamahiri-ya, and on behalf of The Broth-er Leader Moammar Gadhafi,myself and all my colleaguesat the People’s Bureau of theGreat Socialist People’s Liby-an Arab Jamahiriya in Tokyoconvey our sincere greetingsto Their Imperial MajestiesEmperor Akihito and Em-press Michiko, the govern-ment and friendly people ofJapan.

I take the opportunity onthis happy occasion, on behalfof myself and my colleaguesat the Libyan People’s Bu-reau, to congratulate all theLibyan nationals residing inJapan and invite dear readersto celebrate with Libyansthroughout the world our Rev-olution Day of the Great Al-

Fateh Revolution.At the same time, I would

like to express my respect andappreciation for The JapanTimes editorial staff and em-ployees for allowing usthroughout the years to reachout to the readers and sharewith them developments inmy country, Libya.

At the onset, I would like topoint out briefly the recent de-velopments, promising invest-ment opportunities, and cul-tural and touristic advantagesthat continue to enhance bilat-eral relations in various fields,and which have enabled Libyato retain a leading position inthe world today.

On the bilateral level, thereis no doubt that the role playedby the Libyan People’s Bureauand its able members in tan-dem with the relevant hostJapanese ministries, organi-zations and institutions, aswell as the gifted Japan-LibyaFriendship Association, is ofpivotal importance to this dis-course.

Indeed, the Japan-Libya

Friendship Association’s suc-cessive chairpersons and Ex-ecutive Committee continuethroughout the years to playan exemplary role in main-taining and enhancing bilater-al relations.

The activities of the Japan-Libya Friendship Associationare highly appreciated by the

Libyan authorities. The great-est proof is the welcome ex-tended by Brother Leader Ga-dhafi to the successive chair-persons whenever they visitthe Great Jamahiriya.

The latest welcome recep-tion was during the visit of Yu-riko Koike as the chairpersonof the friendship associationand as head of a 26-membereconomic and business mis-sion in November 2009. Koikealso met eight key members ofthe Libyan Cabinet within aspan of three days. These im-portant Cabinet membersdeal with crucial sectors suchas the economy, finance, ener-gy, environment, planning,etc.

This rapport created bythese frequent visits is well ap-preciated in Libya. Here, too,the coverage of the mission inmajor Libyan and Japanesemedia is a testament to theLibyan governmental andpeople-level interest in Japanand vice versa.

Chairperson Koike kindlyexpressed words of welcome

to Brother Leader Gadhafiduring the satellite lecture tothe professors and students ofMeiji University on Dec. 15,2009. This gracious supportwas very well received by theattendees, as well as the gen-eral public, through nation-wide coverage on all of the ma-jor news networks in Japan,Libya and beyond.

At this point, we should notethat Meiji University is wor-thy of a special acknowledg-ment for their keen initiativein issuing the invitation to theleader. President HiromiNaya as well as Professor Ku-nio Fukuda, president of theInstitute of Peace and Disar-mament, and the student vol-unteers meticulously orga-nized a historic event. Thiswas the first of its kind in Asiaand will certainly resonate foryears to come in support of bi-lateral ties.

Meiji University professorFukuda’s cooperation datesback many years. Perhapsmost vividly remembered ishis support during April 2005

in extending welcoming re-marks as a co-coordinator ofthe lecture held at the UnitedNations University of H.E.Saif al-Islam Gadhafi duringhis visit to Japan as an officialJapanese government guest tothe Aichi 2005 Expo.

We sincerely hope that pro-fessor Fukuda will continue tomaintain his interest in Libya,undoubtedly an important ele-ment in bilateral relations,and which can lead to solid ac-ademic ties between our twocountries and their education-al institutes. Meiji Universityas well as other leading Japa-nese universities, such as theUniversity of Tsukuba, shouldbuild upon the momentum cre-ated by recent exchanges withLibyan academics, includingthe visit to Japan of the chan-cellor of Al-Fateh University.

Mitsubishi Corp., a com-mercial entity, is aggressivelyforging research and develop-ment (R&D) relations with Al-Fateh University throughtheir generous contributionsto scientific research on solar

panels that are now operatingat the main power terminal ofthe university.

In addition, the role of Ja-pan International CooperationCenter (JICE) and its collabo-ration with the General Peo-ple’s Committee for Educationand Scientific Research is alsoto be praised for helping toproduce concrete results.

On the economic front,there has been an increase inthe number of Japanese com-panies that have set up theiroperations in the Great Jama-hiriya. The endeavors of 27companies, so far, to exerciseeconomic partnerships withLibyan agencies is gainingground.

In fact, in December 2009,Sekisui managed to establisha joint venture with the LibyaAfrica Portfolio for invest-ment (LAP) with an ultimategoal of entering the Africanmarket and to supply it withhigh-quality glass reinforcedplastic pipes (GRP). This is aspecific example of coopera-tion between Libya and Japan

for the sake of African devel-opment.

Other examples in differentfields abound, such as someautomakers establishing salesand technical centers in Lib-ya. These developments havebeen closely followed by Liby-an high officials and the gener-al public as witnessed by thehigh media interest.

Japanese companies shouldbuild upon this momentum tofurther increase their share inthe Libyan economic develop-ment boom, which is compa-rable to Japan’s own economicachievements, as well as thoseof their counterparts in Asiaand other leading countries.

In April, Dr. Mahmoud Ge-bril, secretary general (Cabi-net level) of Libya’s NationalEconomic DevelopmentBoard (NEDB), visited Japanto seek fundamental partnersin the further economic devel-opment of Libya. The meet-ings with several interestedgovernmental and private or-ganizations, from sectorsCONTINUED ON PAGE 7

The Brother Leader MoammarGadhafi

Local favorite: Algeria Square in Tripoli offers fine coffee shops and fabulous views. LIBYAN PEOPLE’S BUREAU

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(4) THE JAPAN TIMES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 7

Libya revolution day/world

‘Prostitute’ wifeof French leader‘deserves death’Paris AFP-JIJI

France said Tuesday thatinsults in the Iranian mediaagainst first lady CarlaBruni-Sarkozy, who has beenbranded an ‘‘Italian prostitute’’who ‘‘deserves death,’’ areunacceptable.

‘‘The insults in the dailyKayhan and picked up by Iranianwebsites against several Frenchfigures, including Mrs. CarlaBruni-Sarkozy, areunacceptable,’’ Foreign Ministryspokesman Bernard Valerosaid.

‘‘We’re making thismessage known throughnormal diplomatic channels.’’

The Iranian press reactedwith fury last week afterBruni-Sarkozy, the wife ofFrench President NicolasSarkozy, made a publicstatement in support of anIranian woman who has beensentenced to be stoned todeath.

She and other Frenchpersonalities signed a petitioncalling for Tehran to release43-year-old mother-of-twoSakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani,whom an Iranian court hasconvicted of adultery and

complicity in her husband’smurder.

‘‘Reviewing Carla Bruni’srecord clearly shows why thisimmoral woman has supportedan Iranian woman who hascommitted adultery, hascontributed to the murdering ofher husband and has beensentenced to death,’’ said thearticle in the Kayhan newspaper.

‘‘In fact, she herselfdeserves death,’’ the paperadded, labeling the French firstlady an ‘‘Italian prostitute.’’

On Tuesday the IranianForeign Ministry warned itsnational media to refrain frompersonal attacks on foreigndignitaries.

France splitby GypsyexpulsionsMinisters voiceconcern overaccelerateddeportations

ParisAP, THE WASHINGTON POST

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France’s crackdown on Gyp-sies, which has been criticizedby the Vatican and the UnitedNations, is now exposingcracks in President NicolasSarkozy’s government.

Two top Cabinet ministershave voiced concern about thegovernment’s accelerated ex-pulsions of Romany Gypsies totheir home countries. On Mon-day, Prime Minister FrancoisFillon admitted to a ‘‘malaise’’in Sarkozy’s conservative campover the ensuing debate that hasdented France’s image as a stal-wart defender of human rights.

Undaunted, Interior Minis-ter Brice Hortefeux said thatthe stepped-up dismantling ofRomany camps and expul-sions, which he called ‘‘legiti-mate and necessary,’’ wouldcontinue. ‘‘It’s not a question ofstigmatizing this or that popu-lation,’’ Hortefeux said a t anews conference.

‘‘We can’t close our eyes tothe reality,’’ he said, citingsoaring crime by Gypsies andsaying they were being treat-ed as citizens of fellow Euro-pean Union members Roma-nia and Bulgaria — not as anethnic group.

The firestorm within thegovernment comes amid re-cent speculation that Sarkozy,whose poll numbers have beenpersistently low, may belooking to shake up the Cabi-net in the coming weeks —with an eye to the 2012 presi-dential election.

One Cabinet member whomay be on his way out is For-eign Minister Bernard Kouch-ner, who said Monday he hadconsidered resigning over theGypsy expulsions. Kouchnersuggested his frustration wasnot with the policy, which hesays he favors, but with theway the message has beenspun, and gotten out of the con-trol of French officials.

The foreign minister, alongtime human rights advo-cate turned political figure,told RTL radio he ‘‘isn’t happyabout what happened,’’ butthat he decided resigningwouldn’t fix the problemsfaced by the Gypsies.

Defense Minister HerveMorin added fuel to the fire af-

ter he said that instilling fearwas not the answer toFrance’s security problems.

For years, Sarkozy has bran-dished an image of a tough, law-and-order politician in an effortto win political support. Sarkozyhas linked the Romany tocrime, calling their campssources of prostitution and childexploitation. On July 28, hepledged that illegal Gypsycamps would be ‘‘systematical-ly evacuated.’’

The government stepped up along-standing policy of roundingup Gypsies, dismantling their il-legal camps in France, andsending them to Eastern Eu-rope — mainly Romania.

The policy has attractedwidespread scorn. Some call it aform of racism against one ofthe EU’s poorest minorities.Pope Benedict XVI and theU.N.’s human rights panel haveexpressed concern, and EU Jus-tice Commissioner VivianeReding criticized the use of‘‘openly discriminatory andpartly inflammatory’’ lan-guage.

But in vowing to press on,Paris insists the policy is legal,is not new, and that other EUcountries have similar policies.While Romanians, as EU citi-zens, have a right to enterFrance without a visa, theymust prove they won’t become aburden on the state for staysover three months. Camp-grounds must be authorized.

Hortefeux said that since Ju-ly 28,977 Gypsies had been ex-pelled, mainly to Romania andon a voluntary basis with asmall stipend. The minister de-nounced as ‘‘shameful’’ critics’comparison of the policy to ‘‘Na-zi barbarism.’’

Paris Police Chief MichelGaudin said that crime attribut-ed to Romanians was soaring —1 in 5 thefts. He said it was in-creasingly the work of minors,increasingly violent and ‘‘verystructured.’’

European Affairs MinisterPierre Lellouche pointed to Ro-mania’s need to take responsi-bility for its citizens, saying thatonly 0.4 percent of the ¤20 billion($25 billion) in EU aid receivedfor the 2007-13 period has beenused for its Romany population.Lellouche was traveling to Ro-mania next week as part of aFrench effort to help develop anintegration policy.

The government has admit-tedly bungled the handling of itsmessage.

Fillon acknowledged onFrance-Inter radio on Monday a‘‘malaise’’ within the governingUMP party and hit ‘‘the way inwhich this policy has been pre-sented by some.’’

A captivating mix of Islam,culture, modernity, historyLibya is a fascinating mix ofhistory, culture and desertlife. Tripoli, the capital, i s ashowcase for the rest of thecountry. Interesting sightsinclude a castle, many ba-zaars and souks as well asmuseums and mosques.

The country’s Islamic heri-tage can be seen at Sirt, Dar-nah and Ajdabiya, and aglimpse of local Libyan lifecan be observed in the desertcities of Ghadames, Ghat,Ahwhat, Ojla.

The first site that mosttourists visit when arrivingin Libya is Tripoli. It is a cityof Islamic civilization, Arabart and handicrafts, whereevery monument narrates atale.

The dominating site ofTripoli is the Al-Saraya Al-Hamra Castle, which occu-pies the east quadrant of theold city. The castle museumdisplays archaeology and ar-tifacts of ancient Libyan his-tory covering the Phoeni-cian, Greek and Roman peri-ods.

Tripoli is also vibrant withlush gardens filled with olivetrees, palms, grapevines,

and orange groves.The state religion of Libya

is Islam (Sunni Muslim). Theofficial language is Arabic.English and Italian are alsospoken. Libya has a Mediter-ranean climate. Winters aremild and wet and summersare hot and dry.

Founded by the Canaanitesin the sixth century B.C., theUNESCO World Heritage siteof Sabratah is located on thebeautiful Mediterraneancoastline. The Amphitheaterin Sabratha is a major touristspot with a wide variety ofpublic baths, temples andfountains.

The historical town of Lep-tis Magna east of Tripoli of-fers incredible archaeologi-cal sites. It was originally aport, built by the Phoeniciansin the first millennium B.C.Among the things worth see-ing in Leptis Magna are theSeveran Arch built in honorof Emperor Septimus Seve-rus, the Hadrianic Baths, adetailed basilica and an am-phitheater.

One of the best tours thatLibya offers is a visit to Gha-dames in the desert south of

Tripoli. Built in an oasis,Ghadames, ‘‘the pearl of thedesert,’’ is one of the oldestpre-Saharan cities and abeautiful specimen of a tradi-tional settlement.

The old town’s unique ar-chitecture consists of white-washed mud walls and nar-row and obscure walkways.Worth seeing are the D’jmaaal-Kabir mosque, where theminaret can be climbed for awonderful panorama of thecity; Mulberry Square, or theold slave market; and theHouse Museum, which dis-plays unique mercantile fur-nishings. Nearby are the Zal-laf Sand Dunes, abode of thenative Tuareg tribe.

Benghazi is Libya’s sec-ond-largest city. It is locatedon the easternmost part ofthe Gulf of Sirt. Ras Alteen, anearby beach with pristinewhite sands, is a spot wheretourists can relax. Other his-torical sites include the bat-tlefield of Tobruk and thetown of Cyrene. In nearby Su-luq stands the mausoleum ofOmar Mokhtar, hero of theLibyan Resistance during theItalian occupation.

Avenues of cooperation remain ‘nearly endless’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

across the board, were frankand worthwhile.

Indeed, the Minister ofEconomy, Trade and Indus-try H.E. Masayuki Naoshi-ma, in a face-to-face meeting,expressed deep interest in theparticipation of Japanesecompanies and promised tolend full governmental sup-port. This will no doubt pro-vide a solid basis for en-hanced cooperation in fieldsthat Japan has experienceand expertise.

It is important to note thatthis year, like past years,Libya continues to be a lead-er on the world stage. TheGreat Jamahiriya is the cur-

rent chair of the Arab LeagueSummit. This means that thiscoming October a summitmeeting will be held in Libya.Under the brilliant leader-ship and the strong initiativeof Brother Leader Gadhafi,this summit will also includethe African continent’s headsof state.

It is not a secret that thewise leadership of Libya isguided by action rather thanwords. The evidence is thatthis kind of summit meeting,as proposed by the BrotherLeader Gadhafi, of Arab andAfrican heads of state, hasnot happened in decades.

Indeed, African develop-ment is in dire need of furtheraction and support. In thissphere, Japan, too, with itsown Tokyo InternationalConference on Africa’s De-velopment (TICAD) frame-work, can work in tandem

with the Great Jamahiriya toproduce real breakthroughson the continent. Such sub-stantive actions and policieswill produce tangible bene-fits to the African people.

The avenues of coopera-tion between Libya and Ja-pan are nearly endless, andmany opportunities exist forbilateral and multilateralcollaboration to expand. Ja-pan is invited and very muchwelcome to further this dis-course for the mutual benefitour two great nations andpeoples, as well as that of theentire African continent.

Finally, I once again takethe opportunity on behalf ofmyself and that of my col-leagues here at the LibyanPeople’s Bureau in Tokyo todeclare that the Great Sept. 1Al-Fateh Revolution Day isindeed a celebration for allhumankind.

Oasis: Gabr Oun Lake, in the Sahara Desert, is a popular tourist attraction. LIBYAN PEOPLE’S BUREAU

Old meets new: Tripoli, Libya’s capital, boasts gleaming new buildings (above) and theAl-Saraya Al-Hamra Castle (below), which has become a museum that houses historicalartifacts in its 47 galleries, preserving aspects of the old world. LIBYAN PEOPLE’S BUREAU

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy