Ukraine`s president called Tuesday for greater military and energy cooperation with Libya as he courted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was making his last stop on a three-nation tour of former Soviet republics, AP reported.
Gadhafi`s visits to Ukraine, Belarus and Russia appear aimed at spurring competition for arms and energy deals with Libya, an energy-rich north African nation.
President Viktor Yushchenko said at a news conference that Ukraine has "colossal potential" for supplying arms, technology and other materiel to Libya. He also said Ukraine can offer Libya access to Ukraine`s oil refinery industry or networks of retail filling stations.
Neither Gadhafi nor Yushchenko would say whether they had reached a formal deal on arms or on oil and gas supplies. More talks are planned for Wednesday.
Gadhafi may also be using the trip to increase the competitive pressure on Western companies that have sought weapons deals and or access to Libya`s gas reserves. Attention from the West jumped after 2003, when Gadhafi renounced terrorism and efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
