WASHINGTON — The United States is drafting a military cooperation accord with Libya as Condoleezza Rice arrives in Tripoli for the first official visit by as U.S. Secretary of State since 1953.

"Promoting Libyan military-American military relations is an important component in effective cooperation in these areas and the U.S. is currently negotiating a military memorandum of understanding with Libya," the State Department said on Sept. 2.

Officials said the Bush administration has offered to help Libya modernize its military with U.S. systems, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the administration has eased restrictions on aerospace and dual-use equipment to Tripoli.

"Libya is a vital partner in the fight against terrorism and actively helps stem the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq," the State Department said. "In cooperation with its Maghreb neighbors, Libya is active in efforts to combat the growing terrorist threat in North Africa."

Another U.S. goal was to recruit Libya in regional counter-insurgency programs. Officials cited a program to bolster the capabilities of such allies as Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to battle Al Qaida.

The military cooperation talks were disclosed on the eve of a visit by Rice to Libya. Ms. Rice, the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Libya since 1953, was scheduled to arrive in Tripoli on Sept. 4 and meet Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and senior government officials.

Ms. Rice was scheduled to travel to Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Portugal and Tunisia from Sept. 4 through Sept. 7. Officials said the secretary's first stop would be Lisbon, followed by Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers and Rabat.

"Normalized relations between the two countries enable the expansion of bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including education and culture, commerce, science and technology, security and human rights," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Officials said the administration has determined that Libya has helped block the flow of Al Qaida operatives in North Africa. They said Tripoli was also helping the United States track the emigration of Al Qaida volunteers to Iraq.

"They've [Libya] slowed down the movement of foreign fighters from their country through North Africa and ultimately, into Iraq," State Department counter-terrorism coordinator Dell Daily said on Sept. 3. "They've been good team members and partners on that. They've additionally been good team members on looking inside their own borders for potential foreign fighters that have gone across northern Africa into Iraq."

Officials did not say when the military MoU with Libya would be completed. They said Washington has sought to recruit Libyan support to end conflicts in Africa, particularly in Chad, Nigeria and Sudan. Tripoli has been a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

"The U.S. and Libya have a common interest in promoting international peace and security," the State Department said. "Both support a stable, secure, and prosperous Maghreb and believe that greater economic and political integration will help achieve these goals. Libya is a leader on the African continent and through the African Union Contact Group is working to mediate the conflicts in Chad and Sudan."

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