President Nicolas Sarkozy defended Muammar Gaddafi's recent visit to France by stating that the Libyan leader is not seen as a dictator in the Arab world. Critics have accused Sarkozy of prioritizing business agreements over human rights, but he emphasized that Gaddafi's visit followed the release of foreign medics accused of infecting Libyan children with HIV, a deal brokered with Paris' assistance. Sarkozy made a deliberate decision to invite Gaddafi to France after 34 years, leading to the signing of multiple business agreements. Sarkozy stated that Gaddafi is the longest-serving head of state in the region and the Arab world. He believes that France should engage in dialogue with all parties while remaining committed to its values. Gaddafi came to power in 1969 through a military coup. Relations between Libya and Western countries improved after Libya abandoned its weapons of mass destruction programs in 2003 and provided compensation to families of victims of bombings. However, Amnesty International emphasized the need for Libya to demonstrate genuine cooperation on human rights and trade matters as it reemerges as an international partner. The group stated that President Nicolas Sarkozy cannot simply rely on commercial agreements without also pushing for concrete measures to improve human rights in Libya. The value of the contracts signed between France and Libya this week has caused controversy, with some suggesting that the deals were not as significant as initially reported. Socialist Arnaud Montebourg described the visit as a "tragicomic farce" in parliament. Gaddafi criticized France, stating that it weakens France's influence and damages the universal message it sends. He suggested that improving political relations between Tripoli and Paris would benefit French companies. Gaddafi expressed appreciation for French companies in Libya and believed that the political climate had improved, which would help French firms develop in the country.