*'''6 February.''' Italian government ratifies historic Friendship Agreement with Libya signed in [[Benghazi]] in late 2008 by Gaddafi and Berlusconi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alarabonline.org/english/display.asp?fname=2009%5C03%5C03-02%5Czbusinessz%5C988.htm&dismode=x&ts=02/03/2009%2004:42:49%20ã|title=Libya agrees pact with Italy to boost investment|date=2 March 2009|accessdate=|publisher=[[Al-Arab]] }}</ref> It was Berlusconi's first visit to Libya. The neighboring states have had trade and contact going back to [[Roman]] times. Under its terms, Italy would pay $5 billion to Libya as compensation for its military occupation from 1911-1943. In exchange, Libya would take measures to stop [[illegal immigration]] coming from Libyan shores.<ref name="rep">{{cite news|publisher=La Repubblica|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/05/sezioni/esteri/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html|title=Italia-Libia, firmato l'accordo|language=Italian|date=30 August 2008|accessdate=|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000538/http://www.repubblica.it/2008/05/sezioni/esteri/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html|archivedate=3 December 2013}}</ref> Gaddafi pledges to protect Italian investment in Libya to further domestic economic development, create jobs, and provide a disincentive to emigrate. | *'''6 February.''' Italian government ratifies historic Friendship Agreement with Libya signed in [[Benghazi]] in late 2008 by Gaddafi and Berlusconi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alarabonline.org/english/display.asp?fname=2009%5C03%5C03-02%5Czbusinessz%5C988.htm&dismode=x&ts=02/03/2009%2004:42:49%20ã|title=Libya agrees pact with Italy to boost investment|date=2 March 2009|accessdate=|publisher=[[Al-Arab]] }}</ref> It was Berlusconi's first visit to Libya. The neighboring states have had trade and contact going back to [[Roman]] times. Under its terms, Italy would pay $5 billion to Libya as compensation for its military occupation from 1911-1943. In exchange, Libya would take measures to stop [[illegal immigration]] coming from Libyan shores.<ref name="rep">{{cite news|publisher=La Repubblica|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/05/sezioni/esteri/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html|title=Italia-Libia, firmato l'accordo|language=Italian|date=30 August 2008|accessdate=|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000538/http://www.repubblica.it/2008/05/sezioni/esteri/libia-italia/accordo-firmato/accordo-firmato.html|archivedate=3 December 2013}}</ref> Gaddafi pledges to protect Italian investment in Libya to further domestic economic development, create jobs, and provide a disincentive to emigrate. |