A Libyan delegation in Washington shortly to discuss diplomatic representation
Libya-USA, Politics, 3/20/2004

American officials said that a Libyan delegation will head for Washington within two weeks in order to prepare for a diplomatic mission there for the first time since decades.

They said that these developments are part of awards given to Tripoli after its commitment to give up its nuclear program and after both the US and Libya reached an initial agreement on ways to place its employees in Washington.

In February, the US President George W. Bush called on Tripoli to open an office for supervising its interests in the USA. A matter which requires work of diplomats under the supervision of a country enjoying full diplomatic relations with the USA.

The officials who asked to be anonymous said that the United Arab Emirates meets the legal framework to supervise the Libyan interests and Tripoli had assigned mediators to search for finding a suitable place for its interests supervision office.

But Tom Casey, one of the spokesmen for the US Department Of State did not confirm that the UAE will supervise the interests of Libya in the USA. Earlier, the UAE used to supervise the interests of Libya but this supervision ended one year ago.

In February, the US started the foundation of a diplomatic presence in Tripoli and delegated employees for the department of supervising its interests in Libya at the support of the Belgian embassy. Besides, the US President George W. Bush permitted the American oil companies to start negotiations on its return back to Libya which produces currently some 1.4 million barrels of oil every day.

Worthy mentioning that Washington had not severed its relations totally with Libya despite the departure of all Libyan diplomats the USA in 1981.

Previous Stories:
  Libya signed the additional protocol, the IAAE welcomed it   (3/11/2004)
  Tripoli: ministerial reshuffle; Washington announces end of dismantling nuclear program   (3/8/2004)
  Qathafi commends the improvement of relations with the US, considering it as victory   (3/3/2004)

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