WASHINGTON — Less than three weeks after Libya was designated once again as a
terrorist sponsor, the United States has restored full diplomatic relations
with the North African state.
On Monday, the State Department announced the restoration of full
relations with Libya, Middle East Newsline reported. At the same time, the department said it would remove
Tripoli from the U.S. list of terrorist sponsors, which formally could take
place by June 30.
"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," Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice said in a statement.
The department's announcement marked the start of a 45-day period for
Congress and the American people to respond to the decision. Congress was
expected to support the Bush administration.
Ms. Rice said the United States would soon open an embassy in Tripoli.
She said Washington would also remove Libya from the list of state sponsors
of terrorism as well as countries that fail to cooperate fully with U.S.
anti-terrorism efforts.
The United States would continue to address its concerns with Libya, Ms.
Rice said. She cited human rights, democracy and economic and political
reform.
The decision by the Bush administration ends nearly 26 years of
sanctions on Libya. Officials said the move marked a detailed review of
Tripoli's behavior since 1993 that could be extended to other U.S.
adversaries. The United States attacked Libya in 1981 and 1986.
"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," Ms. Rice said. "We urge
the leadership of Iran and North Korea to make similar strategic decisions
that would benefit their citizens."
Officials said they doubted that the United States would sell lethal
military systems to Libya in 2006. But they did not rule out the export of
air transports and other non-combat equipment to Tripoli over the next year.
But administration sources said Libya could represent a new source of
energy for the United States. They said Vice President Dick Cheney has been
appointed to head a White House effort to find near- and medium-term oil
suppliers for the United States.
On April 28, the department released a report that designated Libya a
state sponsor of terrorism. Later, State Department counter-terrorism
coordinator Henry Crumpton said Tripoli has not fully responded to U.S.
concerns regarding Libya's links to groups deemed terrorist.
Over the last three years, Libya has agreed to accept legal
responsibility for the bombing of a Pan Am passenger jet in which 170 people
were killed over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. Tripoli has paid more $2.7
billion to the relatives of the victims.
Tripoli also renounced weapons of mass destruction and medium-range
missiles. Libya's chemical weapons arsenal has still not been destroyed.
"The United States hopes that states with even more threatening WMD and
missile programs will see Libya's experience as a model to emulate," the
State Department said in a statement.