Sergio D'Elia, General Secretary of HOC

ITALY/LIBYA: D'ELIA, ‘ENOUGH’ TO LIBYAN BLACKMAIL

May 9, 2008: we have to say ‘enough’ to the politics of threats and blackmail that the Libyan authorities have used for a long time," Sergio D'Elia, Secretary of Hands Off Cain said. He was responding to a note in which the Libyan Government announced the interruption to the collaboration on clandestine immigration.
"One can make every criticism of Calderoli’s behaviour, which to me seems more like propaganda than a serious political threat. However, it isn’t comparable to the seriousness of Gaddafi’s behaviour that uses the desperate people that depart from the Libyan coast to Italy like cannon fodder and as a means to destabilise Rome."
"The last example of this continued behaviour was the five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor unjustly sentenced to death. They were freed only after seven years of negotiation in which Libya literally extorted millions of euros in cash or under the guise of 'help' from the European Union, Bulgaria, and our country as well."
"Italy and the European Union must respond to the Libyan regime’s political blackmail with the strength and firmness of proper convictions and behaviour. This is the only way to obtain respect from people not accustomed to respecting the principles and rules of law, dialogue, and non violence in international relations." (Sources: HOC, 09/05/2008)