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CNN Sunday Morning

Gadhafi Attends African Union Meeting

Aired July 14, 2002 - 07:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi says African countries should get aid without any strings attached. Mr. Gadhafi attended the just concluded first summit of the African Union in Durban, South Africa. CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault has more on his views.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of man, of dignity, of freedom for Africa.

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A Gadhafi trademark ...

GADHAFI: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

HUNTER-GAULT: ... fiery, unpredictable, speaking out of turn and out of sync with the new African Union leadership promoting good governance as the quid pro quo for Western aid. Gadhafi insisting on aid without conditions.

When we met Gadhafi at the tent, he flew into Durban, South Africa from Libya and set up to entertain other heads of state and guests, he told us that the majority of the African leaders, most of whom, like him, don't lead democratic governments, agreed with him.

GADHAFI (through translator): If the assistance or if the terms of assistance are coupled and conditioned with political aspects, like the governance or the democracy or human rights, then this is considered by them as unsolved (ph) and it will not be accepted.

HUNTER-GAULT: A position putting him in direct opposition to the African Union's new chairman, South Africa's Thabo Mbeki and other leaders joining him in promoting democracy and good governance through the new partnership for Africa's development known as NEPAD, the AU's engine designed to drive Africa's economic and political regeneration.

Gadhafi, who has warned NEPAD could become a tool for blackmail and exploitation of the continent, says its backers should be more wary.

GADHAFI (through translator): As a matter of fact, they're not even sure that there will be economic assistance, because for them maybe it is like just a mirage or what is given by the right hand would be taken by the left hand.

HUNTER-GAULT: Such attitudes are worrying to some, not least because Gadhafi appears to be angling for membership on the Africa Union's committee charged with overseeing NEPAD. But says one of NEPAD's architects ...

PRES. OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, NIGERIA: If Libya comes (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we'll have to conform. And if Libya cannot conform, Libya will have to be told you have to conform.

HUNTER-GAULT: But Gadhafi makes no attempt to dispel the commonly held belief that he could threaten NEPAD's objectives by using his ample checkbook to support leaders who don't want to conform.

GADHAFI (through translator): That's true a certain extent or correct to a certain extent.

HUNTER-GAULT: Gadhafi has flexed his muscles by forcing an interim summit in six months, called to consider his amendments, proposing the creation of a single African country with a single army. Few give them any chance of being adopted, but the moves keeps Gadhafi on center stage.

(on camera): It was Moammar Gadhafi's vision that gave birth to the African Union, but its fraternity has been passed on. Gadhafi says that doesn't bother him. He told me I am the engine behind the car to push it and make it move forward. The big concern for the new African Union is the traffic coming in the opposite direction.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault, CNN, Johannesburg, South Africa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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