Prodi invites Qathafi to Brussels; Libya: our measure are unappreciated by the USA
Libya yesterday renewed its confirmation that there is no justification for the continued American sanctions against it, and considered that it had taken numerous measures that are worthy of appreciation conducive to improve its relations with the USA. It added that lifting the sanctions "will be in the interest of the American companies."
Meantime, the chairman of the European Commission Romano Prodi invited Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi to visit Brussels.
The Libyan prime minister Shukri Ghanem said that there is no need for the "continued American sanctions," especially as Libya had taken numerous measures worthy of appreciation to improve relations with the USA." He added "the decision to lift sanctions off Libya is a merely American decision, taken by the US according to its own policy." Ghanem explained "we are still committed to agreements signed to solve the Lockerbie issue in August 2003 on paying a compensation of USD 2.7 billion for the families of Lockerbie victims."
He added that what Libya had paid and will pay later is linked to several measures, "we and the other two sides ( the Americans and the British) agreed to implement." So far Libya had paid 4 million dollars for each family, and it can stop funding, according to last summer's agreement between the three sides, unless the American sanctions are lifted before May 12, 2004. Ghanem said "we will react according to the agreement." Ghanem considered that lifting the American sanctions "will be in the interest of the American companies" which were prevented since 1982 from importing the Libyan oil.
Last Friday, the US announced that it expects from Libya to abide by its obligations for giving up mass destruction weapons before it would lift the sanctions imposed on it.
Ghanem explained on Libya's announcement to give up its programs to develop mass destruction weapons that "getting rid off programs and equipment that are conducive to the production of internationally banned weapons was taken by Libya for its own interest, expecting not to be rewarded from any one."
On the recent visit by Mohamed ElBaradei, the director of the International Agency for Atomic Energy, and a team of inspectors in Tripoli, Ghanem said that the visit came to "organize Libya's joining to the additional protocol for banning mass destruction weapons, and explain means of implementing texts of agreements Libya will sign." On the other hand, Diplomats said that the telephone call made by the US secretary of state, Colin Powell, and ElBaradei on Friday evening came to alleviate tension between Washington and the agency concerning Libya. A western diplomats said that "Powell telephoned ElBaradei." He added "everyone wants to be more disciplined, and it is in the interest of all to have a lower profile for the statement." In another development, the European commission said in a statement that Prodi, who talked on the telephone with Libya's leader on December 30, said he is ready to meet with the Libyan leader in Brussels as soon as possible. The statement quoted Prodi as saying "It is time for Libya to enter from the main gate, and to contribute to the Euro- Mediterranean dialogue, and to be part of the European Union friends' circle."