Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is due to arrive in France for a five-day official visit, his first since 1973.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is due to arrive in France for a five-day official visit, his first since 1973.
Colonel Gaddafi was invited after Libya released five Bulgarian nurses and a doctor who had been condemned to death, a case in which France mediated.
Colonel Gaddafi was invited after Libya released five Bulgarian nurses and a doctor who had been condemned to death, a case in which France mediated.
The foreign medics were handed over to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife Cecilia earlier this year.
The foreign medics were handed over to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife Cecilia earlier this year.
Since then, the two countries have been strengthening their bilateral ties with a number of economic deals.
Since then, the two countries have been strengthening their bilateral ties with a number of economic deals.
Billion dollar contracts
Billion dollar contracts
The local state-run media in Tripoli has yet to comment on Colonel Gaddafi's trip, his first to France since the early days of his rule.
The local state-run media in Tripoli has yet to comment on Colonel Gaddafi's trip, his first to France since the early days of his rule.
But the Libyan leader's son, Sayef al-Islam Gaddafi, told a French daily newspaper that his father's visit will pave the way for the signing of billions of dollars' worth of contracts.
But the Libyan leader's son, Sayef al-Islam Gaddafi, told a French daily newspaper that his father's visit will pave the way for the signing of billions of dollars' worth of contracts.
These are expected to include the purchase of Airbus planes, as well as a deal to build a nuclear reactor for civil use in Libya.
These are expected to include the purchase of Airbus planes, as well as a deal to build a nuclear reactor for civil use in Libya.
Mr Gaddafi also said that negotiations are underway for the purchase of fighter jets from a French arms company.
Mr Gaddafi also said that negotiations are underway for the purchase of fighter jets from a French arms company.
A series of arms and civil nuclear development deals were signed during a trip President Sarkozy made to Libya five months ago.
A series of arms and civil nuclear development deals were signed during a trip President Sarkozy made to Libya five months ago.
The French oil company Total has significant investments in the oil-rich North African country.
The French oil company Total has significant investments in the oil-rich North African country.
Libya ended decades of isolation from the international community four years ago, when it willingly gave up its pursuit of nuclear arms and renounced terrorism.
Libya ended decades of isolation from the international community four years ago, when it willingly gave up its pursuit of nuclear arms and renounced terrorism.
Libyan-French relations have overcome a few stumbling blocks in the past three decades, including the 1989 downing of a French UTA airliner over Niger.
Libyan-French relations have overcome a few stumbling blocks in the past three decades, including the 1989 downing of a French UTA airliner over Niger.
Libya accepted responsibility for that bombing and offered a compensation deal to the victims of the crash.
Libya accepted responsibility for that bombing and offered a compensation deal to the victims of the crash.
As Libya reaps the benefits of a rapprochement with the West, a fitting description of this new chapter in Franco-Libyan relations seems to be the old saying: it's not personal, it's business.
As Libya reaps the benefits of a rapprochement with the West, a fitting description of this new chapter in Franco-Libyan relations seems to be the old saying: it's not personal, it's business.
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