U.S. diplomatic team arrives in Libya to assess safety for Americans

A team of U.S. officials is in Libya to consider lifting a ban against U.S. citizens traveling to the African country

March 25, 2000
Web posted at: 10:36 p.m. EST (0336 GMT)

From staff and wire reports

TRIPOLI, Libya -- Four U.S. State Department officials arrived in Libya on Saturday for a two-day mission to assess whether a ban on U.S. citizens traveling to the North African country can be lifted.

The U.S. mission, which will be investigating general security arrangements, was prompted by an increase in international visitors to Libya after the lifting of United Nations sanctions. The sanctions were removed when two Libyans accused of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 were handed over last year.

There have been no official contacts between the two countries since 1981 when Washington closed its embassy in Tripoli and order Libyan diplomats to leave the United States.

The visit, however, is opposed by some relatives of the victims of the air disaster. Susan Cohen, of Cape May Court House, New Jersey, whose daughter was one of the Lockerbie victims, said she was appalled by the sending of the delegation.

"This sends a signal to (Libyan leader Moammar) Gadhafi that we've changed our policy and we're ready to be friends," Cohen said.

The Americans were met on arrival by Libyan officials and the Belgian ambassador, whose embassy hosts a U.S. interests section.

Libyan officials have been eager to meet the delegation that could pave the way for lifting the travel restrictions.

"We welcome any move to discussions for solving the problem of understanding, but, of course, we would like to deal with the Americans as equals, with mutual respect," said Dr. Ali Abdul Salem Triky, Libya's secretary of state for African affairs.

Officials confer with other countries' diplomats

The U.S. officials will assess security at airports, hotels and hospitals and also confer with diplomats from other countries based in Tripoli.

The United States lists Libya as a country that sponsors terrorism, employing sanctions that virtually cut all financial and commercial links. The ban on U.S. citizens traveling to Libya has been renewed annually since it was imposed almost 20 years ago.

Last year Libya handed over two suspects indicted Lockerbie bombing, prompting the United Nations to suspend sanctions. Since then, an increasing number of investors from Europe and Asia have been visiting the oil-rich state. Libyans are anxious for U.S. investors to visit, as well.

"The American companies have capital and the technology and the first sector I think they can do a good job in is the oil and gas sector, because they have the experience to work here in Libya," said Dr. Bashir Ali Zenbil, of the Libyan International Development Fund.

Tourists have also been arriving in larger number in Libya. But U.S. officials say they are taking a more cautious approach, adding that it is premature to discuss establishing business links with Libya.

State Department spokesman James Rubin said this week that the United States had taken note of positive steps by Libya to end involvement in terrorism. But, he said, the country "has a very, very long way to go before it meets the standards required to be removed from the terrorism list."

Correspondent Nic Robertson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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ArabNet - Libya Government
U.S. State Department - Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
CIA -- The World Factbook 1999 -- Libya

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