هل الغرب مسؤول عما يجري في ليبيا؟

Hello and welcome to BBC Xtra English!

Today we talk about the controversy surrounding the UK’s relationship with the Libyan government.

Libya was regarded as a rogue state by the US in the late 1990’s.

The Americans felt that it was a threat to world peace and led calls for sanctions to be placed against Libya.

However in 2004, Britain under Tony Blair helped bring in Colonel Gadaffi back into the international community.

According to the former British ambassador to Libya, Oliver Miles, Britain was correct in engaging with Libya.

He told the BBC that a productive dialogue between the two countries took place, discussing issues of security and trade between the two countries.

This was extremely important in his opinion because Libya imports many things from the outside world that Britain can supply.

Dr Rosemary Hollis of City University says that there were other reasons for bringing in Libya from the cold.

She said that it was to make an example of Libya to other states whereby they can be rewarded for offering to cooperate on weapons of mass destruction.

The United States wanted to show that if a radical change was made at the top of a country, there would be some benefits.

But Dr Hollis also believes that the UK and other European countries cannot just sit and watch what is happening in Libya.

She feels that after they began trading and dealing with Libya, they must now do something to help Libyan citizens in the country.

What do you think of this story? Write to us in English!
ما رأيك في هذه القصة؟ اكتب لنا بالإنجليزية

Rogue state
دولة مارقة
Threat
تهديد
Sanctions
عقوبات
The international community
المجتمع الدولي
Engaging
التعامل مع
Productive
مثمر
Dialogue
حوار
Trade
تجارة
Cooperate
التعاون
Weapons of mass destruction
أسلحة الدمار الشامل
Radical change
تغيير جذري