PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy defended a visit by Muammar Gaddafi yesterday, hours after one of his ministers said France was not a "doormat" on which the Libyan leader could wipe off the blood of his crimes.
Rama Yade, the human rights minister, had criticised Col Gaddafi's arrival on World Human Rights Day. He said France should demand human rights guarantees when signing trade deals.
Mr Sarkozy denied he had betrayed France's human rights heritage
by inviting Col Gaddafi, and said securing lucrative contracts for French firms would not prevent him championing human rights.
"I am also here to fight at the side of French businesses and factories so that we have the contracts and orders that the others were so happy to have in our stead, without in any way renouncing my convictions on human rights," he said.
He expected to sign contracts worth around 10 billion (£7.2 billion), including a seawater desalination plant driven by nuclear power, arms co-operation and other deals, Mr Sarkozy told reporters after briefly receiving Col Gaddafi at the Elysee palace.
Col Gaddafi, who was to meet Mr Sarkozy again for dinner later, is set to try to use his visit to improve his credentials as a statesman given his improved ties with the West in recent years.
Ms Yade told the daily newspaper Parisien: "France is not just a trade balance." She said the country should not only sign business deals with Libya but also demand guarantees on human rights there.
"Col Gaddafi must understand that our country is not a doormat on which a leader, terrorist or not, can come and wipe the blood of his crimes off his feet," she continued. "France should not receive this kiss of death."
The full article contains 294 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
