Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Richard Lugar flew to Tripoli over the weekend
to discuss normalizing U.S.-Libyan relations.
Lugar, an Indiana Republican and
regarded as close to President George Bush, met Libyan leaders as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But the White House made no effort to distance itself from overtures Lugar made.
Lugar arrived in Libya on Aug. 19 after visiting Algiera and Morocco, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Senator Lugar's visit to Libya is in his capacity as chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, rather than as part of the Presidential
Mission to Algeria and Morocco," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
"It is consistent with the president's initiative to move forward toward
normal relations with Libya."
The senator also represented Bush in the U.S. effort to release 404 prisoners of
war held by the Polisario Front, which demands independence for Western
Sahara, now controlled by Morocco.
Officials said the Bush administration and Congress have agreed to
guidelines to improve U.S. relations with Tripoli. They said the guidelines
would include steps for the North African state to end links to groups
deemed as terrorist.
"I noted the dramatic improvement in U.S.-Libyan relations and stressed
the U.S. commitment to a continually improving relationship as cooperation
between our countries grows," Lugar said on Saturday in Tripoli.
The U.S. initiative came amid Libya's plans to hold a second round of
tenders for oil exploration contracts. U.S. companies were expected to be
leading bidders.
Officials said Lugar pressed Libyan leaders to demonstrate greater
cooperation in the destruction of weapons of mass destruction. They said
Lugar also discussed guidelines for Libya's removal from the State
Department list of terrorist sponsors.
A key obstacle to normalized U.S.-Libyan relations has been Saudi
Arabia. The kingdom has been furious with Libya ever since the emergence of
a Libyan plot to kill Saudi King Abdullah in 2004.
, Middle East Newsline reported
