|
U.S., British officials to discuss Libya
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-26 16:22
Senior U.S. and British officials met in London Thursday to discuss Libya and
its policies on terrorism and human rights, as the United States prepares to
re-establish full diplomatic ties with the once-outcast state, AP reported.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said David Welch, head of the
department's Near East bureau, held talks in London as part of ongoing
discussions.
The talks focused on "Libya's policies on terrorism, human rights, and ways
to strengthen our cooperation on the outstanding issues we have between us as we
develop a different kind of relationship with Libya," McCormack told reporters
in Washington.
Britain's Foreign Office had no information on the talks.
In March, the U.S. administration notified Congress that it planned to
establish full diplomatic relations, including an embassy, in Libya by the end
of the year, and diplomatic moves have recently gained momentum. The Bush
administration suggested this week that Libya could expect long-sought
diplomatic recognition from the United States if it cleaned up its record on
human rights and terrorism.
Britain has taken the diplomatic lead in ending Libya's international
isolation.
London broke off diplomatic relations with Tripoli in 1984 after British
policewoman Yvonne Fletcher was killed by a shot fired from a window of the
Libyan embassy in London. The two countries restored diplomatic ties in 1999
after Libya accepted responsibility for Fletcher's shooting, apologized and
agreed to pay her family compensation.
Libya's rehabilitation gained pace in late 2003, when leader Moammar Gadhafi
announced the country was abandoning plans to acquire nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Tripoli in March 2004. The same year,
Washington lifted a long-standing ban on travel to the country.
However, Libya is still on Washington's list of states that sponsor
terrorism.
"We've come quite a ways and have a different relationship with Libya than we
had three, four years ago. But there are still issues that need to be resolved,
and we're working on those issues," McCormack said Thursday.
"There are still outstanding issues regarding human rights, terrorism,
democratization that we're talking to them about," he added.
|
 | | | Japanese PM launches general election campaign | | |  | | | Katrina slams US Gulf Coast, oil rigs adrift | | |  | | | Japan's 6 parties square off in TV debate | | |
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top World
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
