US expects action from Libya before normalizing relations
Libya-USA, Politics, 8/23/2005

The US Department Of State has not ruled out normalizing relations with Libya but said that this should be made after Libya takes more steps to improve its human rights records and fight terrorism.

Statements of the spokesman for the Department Of State, Sean McCormack, seemed to be in reaction to expectations by Seif al-Islam al-Qathafi, the son of the Libyan leader and who holds no official government title, to increase the level of diplomatic representation between his country and the USA to the level of embassy representation very shortly.

McCormack said there should be more work to be done by Libya, this, in reply to a question on the possibility of accepting an invitation extended by the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi to each of the US President George W. Bush and the US secretary of state Condaleezza Rice to visit his country.

McCormack added the US is having dialogue with the Libyans now over several issues, noting that the two countries are now being linked by completely different relations... and "should they continue to achieve a progress on the track we set, we will, once again react accordingly to their sincere intention."

The son of the Libyan leader, who is also the chairman of al-Qathafi foundation for charity societies expressed his determination to visit the USA and hold an exhibition for his drawings there. He also expected the removal of Libya's name from the US list of terrorism- sponsoring countries by the end of the current year "following serious and joint steps by the two sides to reach this result."

Previous Stories:
  Lugard: Qathafi hopes Bush Rice would visit Libya   (8/22/2005)
  Qathafi: we have condemned because of our support to liberation movements   (6/20/2005)
  Qathafi: Power lies within the citizens - American evacuation anniversary   (6/11/2005)

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