President Nicolas Sarkozy defended Muammar Gaddafi's recent visit to France by stating that the Libyan leader is not viewed as a dictator in the Arab world. The visit, Gaddafi's first in 34 years, resulted in the signing of multiple business agreements. Critics, including human rights groups and the opposition Socialists, have accused Sarkozy of prioritizing commercial interests over human rights concerns. Sarkozy's decision to invite Gaddafi came after Libya released six foreign medics, who were accused of infecting Libyan children with HIV, in a deal brokered by Paris. In an interview with Le Nouvel Observateur magazine, Sarkozy reiterated that Gaddafi is not seen as a dictator in the Arab world. 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 steadfast in its values. Gaddafi came to power in 1969 through a military coup. Libya's relationships with Western nations have improved since abandoning weapons of mass destruction programs in 2003 and providing compensation for victims of bombings. Amnesty International emphasized the importance of Libya's reemergence on the international stage leading to genuine cooperation on human rights and trade matters. The group stated that President Nicolas Sarkozy must not only focus on signing commercial agreements, but also ensure concrete measures are taken to improve human rights in Libya. The value of the contracts signed this week in France has caused controversy, with some sources 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, undermining its influence and damaging the universal impact of its message. He expressed to French business leaders that strengthening political relations between Tripoli and Paris would benefit companies. Gaddafi praised French companies in Libya and mentioned that previous political decisions had negatively affected firms, but believed the current political environment was more favorable for the development of French businesses in Libya.