Eurasia Press & News
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, starting his first visit to post-Soviet Russia on Friday, will discuss opening a Russian naval base in Libya to counterbalance U.S. interests in the region, a paper reported.
Gaddafi, who last visited then Soviet Russia in 1985, is expected to discuss purchases of Russian arms and energy cooperation during his three-day visit.
The business daily Kommersant, quoting a source involved in preparing Gaddafi’s visit, said “the colonel has saved the good news for his visit which will mollify the Kremlin’s resentment” at a lack of deals with post-sanctions Libya.
“During these talks the colonel intends to raise the issue of opening a base for Russia’s navy in the Libyan port of Benghazi,” the paper wrote.
“In line with the Libyan leader’s plan, Russia’s military presence will become a guarantee of non-aggression from the United States which, despite numerous conciliatory gestures, is not in a hurry to embrace Colonel Gaddafi.”
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Gaddafi in Libya, the first such visit in 55 years, in a move symbolizing the end of years of enmity.
Russia, enjoying an unprecedented economic boom, is keen to project its renewed power, and a flotilla of Russian warships led by a nuclear-powered missile cruiser made a stopover off Libya this month on its way to Venezuela to take part in joint naval exercises.
Libya has also hosted a Russian frigate sent to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
Russian media have reported that Gaddafi may be looking to buy more than $2 billion of Russian arms, and that Moscow may be looking for energy deals.
