US sees change in Libya, reiterates position

"We have seen definite changes in Libya's behavior, specifically declining support for terrorism and increasing support for peace processes in the Middle East and Africa," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Ronald Neumann said yesterday.

The US maintains its own economic sanctions on Libya, although the United Nations suspended its sanctions after the two Libyan suspects in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland were handed over for trial before a Scottish court in the Netherlands.

Neumann, speaking to the Middle East Institute, said, "U.S. unilateral sanctions were imposed in response to Libya's support for terrorism before the international sanctions came into being. Any consideration of lifting U.S. sanctions before Libya has complied fully with international demands would be premature."

He reiterated the US view that Libya must fully comply to UN Security Council requirements in order for a change to occur. He also said, "Libya is not Iraq. We do not seek to maintain sanctions until there is a change of regime in Tripoli."

Although he said that a change in US - Libyan relations "is not necessarily a near-term likelihood," Neumann sounded a conciliatory note toward Libya in light of the changes the US sees taking place there, saying, "We hope such changes signal Libya's willingness to behave as a responsible member of the international community. We would welcome a Libya that complied with all aspects of all UNSCR conditions, that refrained from the use of terror or support for terrorist groups to pursue its agenda, that abjured WMD [weapons of mass destruction] and that helped to bring about peaceful resolutions to regional conflicts."