Blair intends to visit Tripoli, Shalqam in London; Washington restores back its diplomatic presence in Libya
The Libyan ( foreign minister) Abdul Rahman Shalqam announced that the US restored its diplomatic presence in Libya through the American interests sponsoring office which will work from inside the Belgian embassy in Tripoli.
In a joint press conference in London with his British counterpart Jack Straw, Shalqam explained that the Libyan diplomats will head for Washington in order to work in the Libyan interests sponsoring office there. Shalqam also said that the US will lessen the travel restrictions to Libya imposed on American citizens.
An official at the US Department Of State confirmed the return of one American diplomat to Tripoli in order to help experts of mass destruction weapons. The official said that other American diplomats will head for Tripoli later this month.
Shalqam met in London yesterday with the British Prime, Tony Blair, and handed him over a message from the Libyan leader. The Libyan minister stressed that his talks with Straw concentrated on Tripoli's relations with London and Washington.
Shalqam explained that his talks in London achieved a major breakthrough in the area of the efforts to improve bilateral relations and commended the openness of the British officials to continue rapprochement with his country. He said that Libya will get American and British aid to alter nuclear programs into peaceful purposes.
The Libyan minister denied convening a meeting with Israeli officials. He said that establishing relations between Libya and Israel will not be made, and accused certain Arab journalists of the attempt to poison the atmospheres.
The British foreign office secretary announced that the British government hopes that the British prime minister, Tony Blair, will visit Libya as soon as possible. He indicated that he had discussed this matter with the Libyan foreign minister but without defining a date for the visit.
Meantime, the Italian prime minister Silvio Berleskony paid a short visit to Libya to meet with the Libyan leader.
The Italian media considered that Berleskony is making an exploratory mission for the Americans in order to find out the extent of Libya's seriousness to get rid off weapons of mass destructions.
He said upon his arrival that Italy is a friendly country to Libya and wants to remain so. Talks between Berlyskoni and al-Qathafi dealt with several bilateral issues and compensations demanded by Libya for damages suffered under the Italian colonialism.