U.S. Re-Establishes Diplomatic Presence in Libya: Reuters

[emad]

Tue February 10, 2004 10:25 AM ET

By Alistair Lyon
LONDON (Reuters) - The United States has re-established a diplomatic presence in Libya after decades of mutual hostility, Libyan and U.S. officials said Tuesday. "Yes, Americans came to Libya to work inside the Belgian embassy in the U.S. interests section in Libya and Libyans will go to America to work in the Libyan interests section there," Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Abderrhmane Chalgam told a news conference in London. A U.S. official confirmed a diplomat had returned to the Libyan capital. "We presently have one U.S. diplomat in Tripoli to assist the U.S. WMD (weapons of mass destruction) experts," the official said. "This is the first time we have someone there."

The move follows Libya's dramatic decision in December to renounce attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction and cooperate in dismantling its nuclear and other WMD programs. The United States and Libya never severed diplomatic relations, but until the arrival of the U.S. diplomat in Tripoli, Belgian diplomats had staffed the interests section. The U.S. official, who asked not to be named, said other U.S. diplomats were expected to go to Tripoli later this month. Washington recalled its last ambassador in 1980 after a mob sacked the embassy.

Chalgam also said the United States would ease travel restrictions on U.S. citizens visiting his country. Such a move would be a first step toward easing U.S. sanctions on Libya, which is emerging from pariah status after abandoning the quest for banned weapons and paying compensation for the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing. "America, according to what we have learned, will reduce the measures preventing U.S. citizens from entering Libya," Chalgam said, without giving details. The U.S. embassy in London said Friday that talks between U.S., British and Libyan officials had covered the possible removal of restrictions on the use of U.S. passports for travel to Libya, assuming continued progress on Libya's commitments. Libya remains on the State Department's list of countries supporting terrorism. In January President Bush renewed U.S. sanctions on Libya for another six months. Chalgam was making the first visit to Britain by a Libyan foreign minister since Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi seized power in 1969.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4325713

[Robb]

1. What a gig.

This has got to be where you get assigned if you spill hot coffee on Powell.

[emad]

2. Nominations please for new US Ambassador to Tripoli:

Now that he's been kicked out of the Carlyle Group, how about sending Poppy there to massage a few facts and figures and set up a new 'offshore banking facility' for the BFEE?