Diplomatic Relations with Libya

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release                    May 15, 2006
2006/493

Statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

U.S. Diplomatic Relations with Libya

I am pleased to announce that the United States is restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya.  We will soon open an embassy in Tripoli.  In addition, the United States intends to remove Libya from the list of designated state sponsors of terrorism.  Libya will also be omitted from the annual certification of countries not cooperating fully with United States' anti-terrorism efforts.

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.

Today's announcements are tangible results that flow from the historic decisions taken by Libya's leadership in 2003 to renounce terrorism and to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs.  As a direct result of those decisions we have witnessed the beginning of that country's re-emergence into the mainstream of the international community.  Today marks the opening of a new era in U.S.-Libya relations that will benefit Americans and Libyans alike.

Just as 2003 marked a turning point for the Libyan people so too could 2006 mark turning points for the peoples of Iran and North Korea.  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.  We urge the leadership of Iran and North Korea to make similar strategic decisions that would benefit their citizens.

For Libya, today's announcements open the door to a broader bilateral relationship with the United States that will allow us to better discuss other issues of importance.  Those issues include protection of universal human rights, promotion of freedom of speech and expression, and expansion of economic and political reform consistent with President Bush's freedom agenda.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release                                        May 15, 2006
2006/494
          
FACT SHEET

Significant Events in U.S.-Libyan Rapprochement

April 5, 1999 - Two Libyan suspects in Pan Am 103 bombing are transferred from Libya to a Scottish court in the Netherlands for trial.

October 4, 2001 - U.S. and UK begin meetings with Libyan officials to secure Libyan compliance with requirements of the UN Security Council resolutions regarding Libya's support for international terrorism, including the Pan Am 103 bombing. 

August 15, 2003 – Libya accepts responsibility for the actions of its officials in the Pan Am 103 bombing, announces establishment of an escrow account to provide up to $2.7 billion to the families of the victims, pledges to cooperate in the investigation, and renounces terrorism to the UN Security Council.

September 12, 2003 – The UNSC lifts its sanctions on Libya. Pan Am 103 families receive over $1 billion from the escrow account.

December 19, 2003 – Libya announces its intention to dismantle its WMD and MTCR-class missile systems.

January 18, 2004 – U.S and UK experts arrive in Libya to begin assistance in the verifiable elimination of Libya’s WMD and MTCR-class missile programs.

February 8, 2004 – The U.S. re-opens its Interests Section in Tripoli.

February 26, 2004 – In response to Libyan cooperation on the WMD track, including removal of nuclear weapon design documents, centrifuge components, and containers of uranium hexafluoride as well as SCUD C missile guidance sets, the U.S. announces:
o Revocation of the passport restriction on U.S. travel to Libya,
o A general license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) permitting American citizens to incur travel-related expenses in order to travel to Libya,
o A general license from OFAC permitting U.S. companies with pre-sanctions holdings in Libya to begin negotiation on the terms of their re-entry,
o An invitation to Libya to open an Interest Section in Washington, and
o Medical and education exchange delegations are authorized.

April 22/23, 2004 – In response to further Libyan cooperation on the WMD track, the U.S. announces further steps:
o A general OFAC license is issued to permit the resumption of most commercial activity and financial transactions with Libya.  This does not include authorization of scheduled air service or codesharing for flights or unblocking of frozen assets.  Export controls to Libya are maintained consistent with Libya’s continued presence on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List.
o The President terminates the applicability of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) to Libya,
o Intent to terminate the Protecting Power arrangements with Belgium and transition to a U.S. Liaison Office, and
o Drops U.S. objection to Libyan membership in the WTO.

September 17, 2004 – Major milestone in the elimination of Libya’s WMD and MTCR-class programs with all declared items either destroyed/removed or slated for destruction pursuant to trilateral agreements or international regimes.

September 19, 2004 – The President terminates the national emergency for Libya and the remaining requirements for OFAC licenses (resulting in release of Libya's blocked assets and authorization for aviation activities), and adopts a general policy of making U.S. Government assistance programs available to U.S. persons doing business in Libya;  Pan Am 103 families receive over $1 billion from escrow account.

June 28, 2004 – The U.S. Liaison Office (USLO) in Tripoli officially opens, marking resumption of direct diplomatic presence.

July 8, 2004 –Libyan Liaison Office opens in Washington, DC.

September 17, 2005 – In a joint statement with Secretary Rice on the margins of UN General Assembly, Libyan Foreign Minister Shalgam reiterates Libya’s commitment to renunciation of terrorism. 

September 28, 2005 – President Bush signs two Presidential Determinations allowing refurbishment and sale of Libyan C-130s held in the U.S. and assistance by U.S. firms to Libyan efforts to destroy chemical weapon stockpiles.

February 28, 2006 – President Bush waives prohibitions on Export-Import Bank activity in Libya. 

May 15, 2006 – The U.S. begins the process of rescinding Libya’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, announces its intention to upgrade the U.S. diplomatic presence in Tripoli to an embassy, and does not certify Libya as not cooperating fully with USG anti-terrorism efforts.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release                 May 15, 2006
2006/495 (Revised)     
     
FACT SHEET

Libya’s Decision to Eliminate WMD and MTCR-Class Missile Programs:
An International Model

“Abandoning the pursuit of illegal weapons can lead to better relations with the United States and other free nations.  Continuing to seek those weapons will not bring security or international prestige, but only political isolation, economic hardship, and other unwelcome consequences,” President George W. Bush
 
On December 19, 2003, the Libyan Government announced that it had of “its own free will” decided to “be completely free of internationally proscribed weapons.”   In addition to ending its WMD programs, Libya decided to restrict itself to missiles with a range that comply with the standards of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).  Libya also declared its intention to comply fully with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Biological Weapons Convention, and to sign the International Atomic Energy Agency Additional Protocol and accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).  It announced that it offered to undertake these remarkable steps “with all verifiable transparency, including immediate international inspection.”

The Verification Process
After the December 19th statement, Libya looked to the United States, the United Kingdom and relevant international bodies to assist in implementing its decision and verifying its eliminations—an intensive effort which was conducted from January through September 2004.

Nuclear
• Nuclear weapon design documents received from the black market network of Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan were transferred from Libya to the U.S.
• Centrifuges to enrich uranium, related equipment, documents and containers of uranium hexafluoride were transferred to the U.S.
• More than 15 kilograms of fresh highly-enriched uranium reactor fuel were returned to Russia.

Chemical
• In January 2004, Libya acceded to the CWC and soon thereafter destroyed more than 3,600 unfilled chemical bombs in the presence of OPCW inspectors. 
• In consultation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Libya with U.S. assistance will destroy its bulk stocks of chemical agent and precursors.

 

Biological
• Libya provided full access to its biological facilities and personnel. 
• Libya reaffirmed its commitment to the BWC, and submitted BWC Confidence Building Measures in 2005.

MTCR-Class Missiles  
• All elements of Libya’s SCUD C missile force were removed.
• Libya has agreed to eliminate its SCUD B missile force.

The Libyan Model: A Path for Others to Follow

In all of these areas, Libya provided extensive documentation and access to personnel and facilities.  Libya’s openness, cooperation, and commitment to implementing its decision were fundamental to the success of the elimination and verification process.  The United States hopes that states with even more threatening WMD and missile programs will see Libya’s experience as a model to emulate.

Future Consultations

In September 2004, Libya, the U.S., and the UK established the Trilateral Steering and Cooperation Committee (TSCC) to oversee the final stages of elimination of Libya’s WMD and MTCR-class missile programs and to promote cooperation. 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release                            May 15, 2006
2006/496

      
FACT SHEET

Rescission of Libya’s Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

 Countries whose governments the U.S. has determined have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism are designated as state sponsors of terrorism under provisions in the Foreign Assistance Act, Arms Export Control Act, and Export Administration Act. The Secretary of State can rescind Libya’s designation as a state sponsor, if the President submits a report to Congress at least 45 days before the proposed rescission. The report needs to justify the rescission and certify that the government of Libya has not provided any support for international terrorism during the last six months and has provided assurances that it will not support future acts of international terrorism.  After careful review, the President submitted a report on Libya to Congress on May 15, 2006.  In conjunction, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced her intention to rescind Libya’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism after the 45-day period expires.

 Libya was designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979.  Relations deteriorated further during the 1980s, particularly in the aftermath of Libya’s role in the destruction of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988, killing 270 people.  In 1999, Libya began seriously to address our terrorism concerns and began the process of fully meeting the requirements to distance itself from terrorism by transferring the suspects in the Pan Am 103 case for trial by a Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands.  Beginning in 2001, the United States and the United Kingdom initiated three-way direct talks with Libyan representatives to secure Libya's compliance with the remaining international terrorism requirements.  Based upon these discussions, on August 15, 2003, Libya sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council confirming its commitment “not to engage in, attempt, or participate in any way whatever in the organization, financing or commission of terrorist acts or to incite the commission of terrorist acts or support them directly or indirectly” and to “cooperate in the international fight against terrorism.” Libya also accepted responsibility for the actions of its officials in the Pan Am 103 incident, agreeing to pay over $2 billion in compensation to the families of the victims of Pan Am 103 and pledged to cooperate in the investigation. 

 On December 19, 2003, after intense discussions with the United States and the United Kingdom, Libya announced its decision to abandon its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and MTCR Category I missile delivery systems.  President Bush responded that the United States would reciprocate Libya's good faith in implementing this change of policy.  At the same time, Libya moved forward in implementing its pledge to cooperate in the fight against international terrorism.  Since September 11, 2001, Libya has provided excellent cooperation to the United States and other members of the international community in response to the new global threats we face.  Based on this cooperation, Secretary Rice also announced on May 15, 2006, that, for the first time, Libya will not be certified this year as a country not cooperating fully with U.S. antiterrorism efforts.

 The United States has responded to Libya's actions through a careful step-by-step process designed to acknowledge Libya's progress, but still allow review at each stage.  Libya has responded in good faith not only in the area of international terrorism but also in the related field of weapons of mass destruction.  Libya is an important model to point to as we press for changes in policy by other countries (such as Iran, North Korea, and others), changes that are  vital to U.S. national security interests and to international peace and security. 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release            May 15, 2006
2006/497

           
FACT SHEET

Upgrading of Diplomatic Relations with Libya

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced on May 15, 2006 that the United States intends to upgrade the U.S. diplomatic presence in Tripoli, Libya from a liaison office to an embassy headed by a U.S. ambassador.  The United States withdrew its last U.S. Ambassador to Libya in 1972.  All remaining U.S. government personnel were withdrawn and the embassy was shut down after a mob attacked and set fire to the U.S. Embassy on December 2, 1979.  Resumption of a direct diplomatic presence occurred on February 8, 2004 with the arrival of U.S. personnel at the U.S. Interests Section in Tripoli.  That mission was upgraded to a Liaison Office on June 24, 2004. 
 
On a reciprocal basis, Libya has been invited to upgrade its own liaison office in Washington, D.C. to an embassy and to appoint an Ambassador.  In May 1981, the U.S. government closed the Libyan’s “People’s Bureau” (embassy) in Washington, D.C. and expelled the Libyan staff in response to a general pattern of unacceptable conduct. Libya re-established its diplomatic presence in Washington with the opening of a Liaison Office on July 8, 2004.