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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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One year after Libya made surprising political openings toward West we can proudly declare that our hypothesis explaining this sudden change is still the most relevant. Exactly one year ago we at IRED were the first to suggest that the true intentions of the aging col. Muammar Qaddafi is to pave the way to power for his son Seif el-Islam and to ensure that his administration will have as much as possible western support. Since no event has contradicted this hypothesis and more and more global media have begun to embrace its main premise.

2004 for Libya was a good year in terms of solving old problems. One by one old foes went silent. United States, United Kingdom, and continental Europe gradually wrote off the country of their black lists. Muammar Qaddafi went so far by claiming that it was him who contributed largely to the George Bush election victory. He frequently offered mediation between Washington and its remaining "axis of evil" states North Korea and Iran. Underneath this offers were hidden blunt suggestions to the West to reward Libya for its cooperation in order to encourage the others to do the same.

As always the reality is mixed with political wish thinking. For some Western governments the understandable policy of Qaddafi to make his rule dynastic is often portrayed in the media as an attempt to ensure democratic transition according to Washington "Greater Middle East" project. Qaddafi's people are eager to exploit this western confusion. In fact beyond some Qaddafi-son quotations taken out of context there is nothing that could point at such prospective. The political regime in Libya is firmly in control of everyday life of all citizens. There is no opposition or to use the words of "democratic" Qaddafi-son there are only 5 people opposing the government and they live in America.

The recent affair with presumed plot to kill the Saudi crown price with Libyan help is another event to show that the country's international standing is far from perfect. Of course allegations don't mean proof but the mere fact that a government is ready to throw accusations again Libya for such kind of dirty business is sufficient to make us not to buy willingly the "democratic" transition theory.

Libya country profile:

• Area: 1,759,540 sq km (more than 90% desert or semi-desert)
• Population: 5.6 million (incl. 166,510 non-nationals)
• Population growth rate: 2.37% (2004 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 76.28 years
• Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (2004 est.)
• GDP per capita: purchasing power parity $6,400 (2004 est.)
• Main trading partners: Different EU countries, Turkey.
• Internet users: 160,000 (2003)

(CIA - The World Factbook 2004)

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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Libya.