Burns hands over al-Qathafi a message from Bush
Libya-USA, Politics, 3/24/2004

The US under secretary of state for the Middle East affairs William Burns yesterday started a two day visit to Tripoli, Libya. This visit is the first for an official at the American administration to Libya since 30 years.

This is at a time when the son of the Libyan leader Seif al-Islam expressed his "astonishment" over convening an Arab summit under the conditions the region is witnessing that makes his country " distrusting Arabism " and inclines to Africa, noting that his country might compensate for the Jews in future.

Burns made no press statements upon his arrival at Tripoli airport where he was welcomed by the Libyan ambassador in Italy, Abdul Ati al-Obeidi.

Later in the day, Burns held talks with the Libyan (foreign minister) Muhammad Abdul Rahman Shalqam and then he was received by the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi. Official sources said that Burns handed over al-Qathafi a message from the US President George W. Bush on ways and means of improving relations between the two countries.

Burns' visit came as a culmination of the notable gradual improvement in the relations between Washington and Tripoli following Libya's sudden decision to give up nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs in December 2003.

The plane which took Burns from Cairo landed in Muteiqa airport, a former US base outside the outskirts of Tripoli. Diplomatic sources considered this visit as a sign that the US will shortly lift sanctions prescribed on Libya.

Previous Stories:
  A Libyan delegation in Washington shortly to discuss diplomatic representation   (3/20/2004)
  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)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search