Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament revealed the text of a telephone conversation that took place between former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Muammar Gaddafi on February 25, 2011.

The conversation shows Blair talking about ending the violence, while Gaddafi denied the existence of protests, accused Western countries of a neo-colonial conspiracy, and threatened to arm the Libyan people and resort to fighting.

Blair told Gaddafi: “The main thing required is to stop the bloodshed and violence,” while Gaddafi replied: “There is no fighting at all in Libya. Who said that?” “They want something else. It is a colonial campaign, and we have to challenge colonialism.”

Blair continued, “If you have a safe place to go, you must go there, because this will not end peacefully and there must be a process of change, and this process of change can be managed, and we must find a way to manage it.”

On the other hand, Gaddafi insisted on denying the existence of any protests, saying, “We have no problem, just leave us alone, and if you are really serious and looking for the truth, get on a plane and come to see us.”

Transcript of phone conversation:

Tony Blair: He spoke and sent a message to the people. The main thing required is to stop the bloodshed and violence.

Gaddafi: Who said that? 100 percent nothing happens.

Blair: These are the reports in the news, let me explain to you because I’ve talked to people, and everyone wants a peaceful end to this situation.

Gaddafi: There is no fighting at all in Libya, who said that? They want something else, it’s a colonial campaign, we have to challenge colonialism, there is nothing here, no fighting, no blood, come to Tripoli and see everything here.

Blair: The belief is that there is a fight going on, if you have a safe place to go you have to go there, because this is not going to end peacefully and there has to be a process of change, and this process of change can be managed, and we have to find a way to manage it.

Gaddafi: This seems to be a colonial offensive, and I will have to arm people in preparation for fighting.

Blair: If the leader says he wants to end the violence, you have to understand how this will affect the outside world, and what worries me is how this happens in the most peaceful way, and you have to find a way to do that, and the best thing is to start and enter into a peaceful process of change.

Gaddafi: The Libyan people will be killed and the Middle East, Europe and the whole world will be harmed, and armed groups are using this situation as a justification, and we have to fight them.

Blair: You have to try to do something to let this process (change) happen peacefully, and the only way to do that is to tell the people that you will get into it.

Blair: In light of what happened, I don’t think this can happen. Do something that allows the process to happen, and the violence must stop, a new constitution must be formed, and the most important thing is that this process of change begins, and it can only do that if the leader allows that to happen. In addition to being keen for the violence to stop, he must indicate that he wants this change, and I repeat the demand that people told me, if there is a way in which he can leave, he must do it now, and I believe that this can happen peacefully, but he must He acts now and indicates that he wants this to happen.

Gaddafi: Where is he supposed to go? He has no authorization.

Blair: The position of the Libyan leader is crucial. If he indicates that he wants this to happen now, and that he will stand aside and go to a safe place, I think that will resolve the matter peacefully, and if he wants that to happen then I can return this message to the people I have been speaking to. There is a process of change that will occur, and the leader himself explained it. He needs to signal acceptance of this change and needs to stand aside to allow the change to happen peacefully.

Gaddafi: There is no bloodshed here and the situation is very calm, but if you want to destroy Libya, we are ready to fight, and it will be like Iraq. Why don’t you come and see Tripoli?

Gaddafi: Leave us alone. You can watch Libyan television showing the size of the supportive demonstrations and the size of the supportive television programs, and we know how to sort them. (Gaddafi places the phone near the television) There is no fighting and no demonstrations, and there was a child declaring: (Long live Gaddafi).

Gaddafi: Come to Tripoli and see for yourself.

Blair: Let me see that. I’m in Kuwait now, but my concern is that this is happening very quickly, and if we don’t find a way out in the next few hours, I don’t know what will happen. The leader can compromise, and if he doesn’t, we will end up shedding the blood of a lot of Libyan people, and I don’t want that to happen.

Gaddafi: There is no bloodshed and there is no fighting. Come and see for yourself. People are spreading rumors on television stations. These people are from Guantanamo, and we know them by name, and they support Al-Qaeda. Do you support Al-Qaeda?

Blair: Absolutely not. The important thing is how do we get to a point where things can end in a peaceful way, and if people see the leader standing aside, they will be satisfied with that, and if this continues for another day or two we will be past the point, and I say this because I believe strongly, and if we cannot Get your way out too quickly and events will pass the point of no return.

Gaddafi: There is fighting in Algeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. Do you support terrorism?

Blair: We are completely opposed to terrorism and Al-Qaeda, and the only way out of the crisis is to allow a constitutional change process to take place now.

Gaddafi: Al-Qaeda members are not for change, this is not their demand, and these are children. No one talks about the constitution or change.

BLAIR: But this is why it’s important for a leader to take the initiative and talk about change, and I wanted to convey this message urgently because this is the last chance to resolve the crisis peacefully, and I don’t know if it’s possible for me to come to Tripoli.

Gaddafi: Does this mean that you will demand military intervention if we do not resolve this peacefully?

Blair: Absolutely not, no one wants that, and it is not in anyone’s mind, and it is not recolonization, and unless there is a peaceful process the crisis will continue, and my desire is to put into effect something peaceful rather than violent confrontation.

Gaddafi: Are these people in Nigeria in Afghanistan? The Taliban have a constitution?

Blair: The leader is the only person who can handle this in a peaceful manner, and if that does not happen very quickly, the Libyan people at home will make things take a very dangerous turn.

Gaddafi: This will not happen, and if you do not intervene, I will arm the Libyan people tonight.

Blair: We don’t want that.

Gaddafi: We have no problem, just leave us alone, and if you are really serious and looking for the truth, get on a plane and come to see us.

Blair warns Gaddafi: The Libyan people will make things take a very dangerous turn

BLAIR: I will inquire about that, and I have tried to convey the message and I hope that the leader can reflect on what I said, and we need him to take the initiative, and I would like to offer a peaceful way out.

Gaddafi: Come here and see the reality for yourself.

Blair: Keep the lines open.

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