Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi said Europe needs Africa more than Africa needs Europe and his continent should not be treated with disdain. The Libyan leader told an African Union-EU summit in Tripoli that it is high time that Europeans started dealing with Africa on the basis of equality, This Day, a Lagos, Nigeria, newspaper reported.
The two-day summit, "Investment, Economic Growth and Job Creation," is aimed at enhancing the socio-economic and political development of Africa.
Gadhafi said in opening remarks Monday that the population of Africa should be viewed as a ready market for European products.
He also suggested Africa be dealt with as one single entity rather than structured regions.
Gadhafi asked that the European Union provide Libya with $1.6 billion to help block illegal immigrants who use the Libyan corridor to illegally enter Europe.