Rubin downplays chances for bilateral meeting with Libya

US State Department spokesman James Rubin downplayed chances yesterday for an immediate meeting, saying, "There are no plans for bilateral meetings with the Libyans," emphasizing that until Libya is in compliance with UN resolutions the US sees "no point" in bilateral meetings with Libya.

He added that the US willingness to take part in discussions on the preparation of the report Annan must prepare within 90 days on Libya which could lead to the final lifting of UN sanctions against Libya, saying that Annan "has said he is interested in our views and those of others, including the Libyans, as he prepares his report. He specifically indicated that he would like to meet with the US and the UK in the future. We would have no objections to the Libyans being present in that meeting, but that is not an indication that we are prepared to meet with them bilaterally unless and until they have moved down the road towards complying with the requirements in the Security Council resolutions."