Blair, al-Qathafi discuss normalization
Libya-UK, Politics, 3/25/2004

The British prime minister Tony Blair held talks in Tripoli today with the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi that concentrated on the security, military and economic cooperation between the two countries and means of ending Libya's isolation after it had ended its banned weapons programs.

Blair's visit to Tripoli is the first for a high ranking British official since 60 years and is considered a crowning for the efforts to bring together nearer the two countries following the settlement of the Lockerbie issue.

Statements made earlier by Blair and his foreign minister Jack Straw explained that the visit aims at confirming the international community's welcome of al-Qathafi after he had given up the mass destruction weapons and what he had called terrorism.

In statements to the BBC, Straw considered that Libya had given up what he had called support of terrorism and its chemical and biological programs, thanks to the western diplomatic pressures and indirectly because of toppling the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Also in the context of closeness, Straw added hat British police officers will head for Libya on April 3 to follow up investigations in the killing of the British police woman Evon Fletcher outside the building of the Libyan embassy in London in 1984. The incident over which London cut its diplomatic relations with Tripoli.

For his part, the Libyan side showed an agreement in the view points with London over the war over what is called terrorism. The Libyan (foreign minister) Abdullah Shalqam described al-Qaida organization as a real obstacle before progress and the change in the region. This was expressed in statements to the press accompanying the British prime minister.

Previous Stories:
  London: Venue of meeting between al-Qathafi and Blair is undecided   (2/12/2004)
  Blair intends to visit Tripoli, Shalqam in London; Washington restores back its diplomatic presence in Libya   (2/11/2004)
  Blair telephones Qathafi   (12/22/2003)

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