U.S. Renews Ties With Libya
The United States is restoring normal diplomatic relations with Libya for the first time in over a quarter century after intending to take Moammar Gadhafi's country off a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, the State Department announced Monday.
"This is not a decision that we arrived at without carefully monitoring and assessing Libya's behavior," Assistant Secretary of State David Welch said.
The move culminates a process that began three years ago when Tripoli surprised the world by agreeing to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.
"We are taking these actions in recognition of Libya's continued commitment to its renunciation of terrorism and the excellent cooperation Libya has provided to the United States and other members of the international community in response to common global threats faced by the civilized world since September 11, 2001," a statement from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.
There have been no normal relations with Libya since 1980. The State Department for several years listed Libya among nations the U.S. government considered as official sponsors of terrorism.
Libya was held responsible for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988, which claimed 270 lives, most of them American.
But Libya has made a decisive move away from terrorism in recent years, officials said.
The State Department also announced it will "soon" open an embassy in Tripoli, upgrading the current U.S. liaison office in Tripoli.
They also announced they intend to remove Libya from the list of countries the United States considers to be state sponsors of terrorism. That means that a 45-day public comment period will begin on Monday, after which Libya would be removed from the list.
"Today marks the opening of a new era in U.S.-Libya relations that will benefit Americans and Libyans alike," Rice said.
The establishment of normal relations may have come sooner were it not for allegations that Gadhafi's regime was behind an attempt on the life of Saudi's Arabia's King Adbullah when he was crown prince several years ago.
Hints that a U.S. move was afoot were evident when the State Department decided to summon family members of the victims of the Pan Am 103 to Washington for a briefing next week on "U.S.-Libyan relations."
The administration's decision also comes at a time when it is attempting to shore up relations with major oil producers because of high prices and a shortage of supplies. Libya has substantial oil reserves.
Gdhafi was once known here as perhaps the most dangerous man in the Middle East. President Reagan ordered air attacks against Libya in 1981 and 1986, the latter because of suspected Libyan sponsorship of a terrorist attack at a West Berlin disco frequented by American soldiers. Two Americans died there.
Since 2003, however, Libya has been held up as a model by the administration for the way aspiring nuclear weapons powers should behave.
In making the announcement Monday, Rice also said in a statement, "Libya is an important model as nations around the world press for changes in behavior by the Iranian and North Korean regimes -- changes that could be vital to international peace and security."
The American attack on Iraq made Gadhafi wonder whether he would be next. In December 2003, he agreed to surrender his weapons of mass destruction facilities and agreed to allow them to be shipped for storage in the United States.
Rep. Tom Lantos, the ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, said the administration's decisions were fully warranted.
"Libya has thoroughly altered its behavior by abolishing its program to develop weapons of mass destruction and ending its support for terrorism," Lantos said.