Paris obstructs lifting sanctions from Libya
Libya-France, Politics, 9/10/2003

The UN Security Council was subjected to a new French veto against a draft British resolution to lift sanctions from Libya who decided to postpone voting on the draft resolution until next Friday, amid an American disappointment of a sudden stand taken by France which was issued despite Tripoli's announcement that its agreement with the families of UTA plane victims will be announced immediately after lifting the sanctions.

The spokesman for the US Department of State, Richard Boucher, described the French threat to use the veto as "surprising." He said that the " French asked for more time and got it in order to reach an agreement with Libya," adding "we are now facing a threat of using the veto. A matter which we consider as surprising."

However, the Libyan ambassador in London Muhammad al-Zowi announced that the agreement with the families of UTA plane victims will be announced immediately after lifting the sanctions at the UN, in remarks to the previous Libyan request to lift the sanctions before finalizing the agreement with France.

The British ambassador at the UN whose country presides over the current session of the UN security council said that the resolution to postpone voting for lifting the sanctions was taken in order to avoid any additional postponement and stressed that the council is "united and determined to deal with matter on Friday. I will not talk about any new postponement. Voting on this resolution will be on Friday."

Previous Stories:
  Qathafi declared agreement over Yota; Lockerbie ended and a new page with the west   (9/1/2003)
  New French threat postpones lifting sanctions; Libya announces negotiations with Germany   (8/29/2003)
  Negotiations in Libya, de Villepin is optimist   (8/23/2003)

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