Libya Claims Victory in Swiss Row After Visa Ban on Officials Lifted
THE GUARDIAN: Tripoli reciprocates by ending entry restrictions on members of Schengen nations

Gaddafi addressing the United Nations last year. He urged the body to abolish Switzerland and divide it between Germany, France and Italy. Photograph: The Guardian
Libya has claimed victory after Switzerland today dropped a visa ban on senior members of Muammar Gaddafi's regime as part of a long-running row between the two countries.

The foreign ministry in Tripoli said it was ending entry restrictions on members of Europe's Schengen passport-free zone after the Spanish EU presidency declared an end to the exclusion of 188 Libyan officials, including Gaddafi.

But Libya's foreign minister, Musa Kusa, said that the crisis was not over. "We demand international arbitration and we will accept any outcome, positive or negative," he said.

The visa spat ended after the Spanish foreign minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, arrived for talks in the Libyan town of Sirte, where Gaddafi was hosting an Arab League summit. Italy's Silvio Berlusconi was one of the foreign guests and reportedly stopped to kiss the Libyan leader's hand.

It took weeks of intense diplomatic activity to end the row and ease pressure on economic ties between the EU and Libya, with Italy – increasingly dependent on Libyan energy supplies – pressing hard for a solution. The Swiss visa ban was legally binding on Italy and all 25 Schengen members, including 22 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Iceland and Norway. >>> Ian Black, Middle East editor | Sunday, March 28, 2010

Nicolas Sarkozy Hails EU Shake-up a Victory for France
THE TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy has reignited the row over the appointment of European Union commissioners by branding Britain “the big losers”.

The French President said the appointment of Baroness Ashton of Upholland as the EU’s new foreign policy chief was far less important than the elevation of Michel Barnier, France’s former agriculture minister, to the key financial post of commissioner for the internal market, which puts him in charge of supervising the City of London.

In provocative remarks which are certain to inflame tensions, Mr Sarkozy told Le Monde newspaper that the negotiations which resulted in Tony Blair being jettisoned and Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian Prime Minister, being appointed the new EU president, were a “French victory”.

He said that Britain was against Mr Barnier’s appointment to the financial post, but that he got it through after persuading José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, to back the idea.

Mr Sarkozy said: “It’s the first time in 50 years that France has had this role. The English are the big losers in this business.”

The remarks, on the fringes of the Commonwealth Summit in Trinidad and Tobago, are particularly surprising because the French President had been expected to “reassure” the British about the intentions of Mr Barnier, who will play a big role in financial reform and regulation, an issue on which the British and the French have starkly differing views.

Mr Sarkozy has said he will visit London soon to calm worries in the City about a more regulatory French regime orchestrated by Paris.

But his comments to Le Monde will do little to put British minds at rest. >>> Melissa Kite and Kim Wilsher, in Paris | Saturday, November 28, 2009

LE MONDE: A la Commission, Michel Barnier défendra une économie plus régulée >>> Arnaud Leparmentier et Philippe Ricard | Samedi 28 Novembre 2009

BNP Wins First Ever County Council Seat in Major Victory for Far-right Party
MAIL Online: The British National Party won its first ever county council seat in the UK today.

The far right party won its first seat in Lancashire in the party's stronghold of Burnley as Labour was routed.

Sharon Wilkinson was elected to Lancashire County Council with a massive 30 per cent of the vote as electors dumped Labour in their droves.

Her victory in the Padiham and Burnley West ward, where she was born and brought up, is a major victory for the party. >>> By Jaya Narain and Beth Hale | Friday, June 05, 2009