Post by Salem6 on Dec 20, 2003 9:34:52 GMT
Libya has said it will give up its programmes for developing weapons of mass destruction and allow unconditional inspections.
President Muammar Gaddafi said that, after months of negotiations with the West, his country was ready to play its role in building a world free from all forms of terrorism.
Gaddafi's government negotiated with the US and UK
Friday's surprise statement drew immediate praise from Washington and London.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called the announcement "an historic one and a courageous one".
US President George Bush said: "Colonel Gaddafi's's commitment, once fulfilled, will make our country more safe and our world more peaceful," he said.
"Leaders who abandon the pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the US and other nations."
The US and its allies have long suspected that Libya had secret chemical and biological weapons programmes, but Libya repeatedly denied such allegations saying it only had facilities for pharmaceutical or agricultural research.
In 1995, the country reopened its Rabta pharmaceutical plant at Qabilat az Zaribah which, prior to its 1990 closure, had produced up to 100 tons of chemical weapons, according to the US.
But chemical weapons production at Libya's underground Tarhuna facility is thought to have been suspended following intense international scrutiny.
UK officials believe Libya was close to obtaining a nuclear weapons capability before the deal.
Libya says it has now agreed to immediate international monitoring of its facilities.
Tripoli also promised to negotiate a new deal with the United Nation's nuclear agency and provide guarantees on biological weapons.
Mr Blair said Britain had been engaged in talks with Libya for nine months.
Tony Blair applauded the move
""Libya came to us in March following successful negotiations on Lockerbie to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issue in a similarly co-operative manner," he said.
Friday's decision entitled Libya to rejoin the international community, Mr Blair said.
"It shows that problems of proliferation can, with good will, be tackled through discussion and engagement, to be followed up by the responsible international agencies.
"It demonstrates that countries can abandon programmes voluntarily and peacefully."
Mr Blair contrasted Libya's voluntary relinquishment of weapons of mass destruction with Iraq's defiance, which led to military action and the toppling of leader Saddam Hussein.
During three weeks in October and early December, a team of experts from Britain and the US had visited Libya and gained access to projects, including uranium enrichment, under way at more than 10 sites.
The team had also been shown "significant quantities" of chemical agent and bombs designed to carry it, British officials said.
The Libyan Government said it had shown the experts equipment that could have been used to develop "internationally banned weapons".
It said it had now decided to abandon the programme of its own "free will " and to admit weapons inspectors.
Libya called on other countries to follow its lead.
It said: "By taking this initiative, (Libya) wants all countries to follow its steps, starting with the Middle East, without any exception or double standards."
BBC world affairs editor John Simpson says Libya has not been at the centre of the war on terror, but has always been regarded as a "friend of terrorists" - and had, for example, helped the IRA in the 1970s.
BBC Jerusalem correspondent James Reynolds said Israel would be "surprised and relieved" by the announcement.
"Israel's main hope will be that the announcement puts additional pressure on Iran."
But he added: "It may also refocus attention on Israel's own nuclear weapons programme."
Video:-
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
"This decision by Colonel Gaddafi will make the region and the world more secure"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39658000/rm/_39658915_libya_blair_stmnt_vi.ram
The BBC's Reeta Chakrabarti
"Tony Blair couldn't contain his satisfaction at the news"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39659000/rm/_39659181_libya06_chakrabarti_vi.ram
Gaddafi: In from the cold
By Paul Reynolds
BBC News Online world affairs correspondent
The sudden announcement that Libya is giving up its ambitions to develop weapons of mass destruction is a major step in the effort led by the United States to stop their spread around the world.
Libya is trying to repair international relations
The move by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and the capture of Saddam Hussein are two very welcome seasonal presents for President Bush and Prime Minister Blair.
It was natural that they should both have rushed in front of the cameras to make the announcement, a race which Mr Blair narrowly won.
It helps to soften the disappointment of failing to find weapons in Iraq.
And it shows that countries can be persuaded not to go down the path of developing these weapons.
The message to North Korea and Iran in particular is clear. If you co-operate, there will be rewards. If you do not, there will be dangers.
Colonel's initiative
Colonel Gaddafi appears to have got the message of Iraq - that developing such weapons or even showing an interest in them is highly dangerous.
He was ready for such a move, which Mr Blair revealed came at the Libyan leader's own initiative in March, the very moment when Saddam Hussein was being driven out of power.
At the same time, Libya signalled that it was ready to pay compensation for the Lockerbie bomb, which it did in August.
Colonel Gaddafi appears to have got the message of Iraq - that developing such weapons or even showing an interest in them is highly dangerous
United Nations sanctions were lifted and Colonel Gaddafi began to come in from the cold. He had seen which way the wind was blowing.
Given what happened to Saddam Hussein, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi can reckon himself fortunate to have got away with, in effect, a fine.
At the time, the US deputy UN ambassador James Cunningham said that the vote "must not be misconstrued by Libya or by the world community as tacit US acceptance that the government of Libya has rehabilitated itself.
"The United States continues to have serious concerns about other aspects of Libyan behaviour, including its poor human rights record, its rejection of democratic norms and standards, its irresponsible behaviour in Africa, its history of involvement in terrorism and most important, its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery," he said.
We now know that he was being serious about those weapons and the rockets to go with them.
'Sponsor of terrorism'
It has often been alleged that Libya was trying to develop chemical weapons, though the extent of this programme was unclear.
Mr Bush mentioned biological and nuclear programmes as well. Of those, even less is known.
It is an amazing turnaround for Colonel Gaddafi, whose own compound was bombed on the orders of Ronald Reagan in 1986
Until the US is satisfied that the Colonel will live up to his promises, the remaining US sanctions will not be removed.
These are a ban on trade, including oil, and penalties for non-US companies which invest more than $20m a year in Libya's oil industry.
And Washington still classifies Libya as a state sponsor of terrorism.
But Mr Bush also said that the "path is open" to normalising relations, so that will probably come in due course.
It is an amazing turnaround for Colonel Gaddafi, whose own compound was bombed on the orders of Ronald Reagan in 1986.
He has also supplied the IRA with weapons.
Now he is being lauded by both the US and the UK.
Libya remains a major oil producer. It is seventh in the Opec oil cartel's top 10.
President Muammar Gaddafi said that, after months of negotiations with the West, his country was ready to play its role in building a world free from all forms of terrorism.
Gaddafi's government negotiated with the US and UK
Friday's surprise statement drew immediate praise from Washington and London.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called the announcement "an historic one and a courageous one".
US President George Bush said: "Colonel Gaddafi's's commitment, once fulfilled, will make our country more safe and our world more peaceful," he said.
"Leaders who abandon the pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the US and other nations."
The US and its allies have long suspected that Libya had secret chemical and biological weapons programmes, but Libya repeatedly denied such allegations saying it only had facilities for pharmaceutical or agricultural research.
In 1995, the country reopened its Rabta pharmaceutical plant at Qabilat az Zaribah which, prior to its 1990 closure, had produced up to 100 tons of chemical weapons, according to the US.
But chemical weapons production at Libya's underground Tarhuna facility is thought to have been suspended following intense international scrutiny.
UK officials believe Libya was close to obtaining a nuclear weapons capability before the deal.
Libya says it has now agreed to immediate international monitoring of its facilities.
Tripoli also promised to negotiate a new deal with the United Nation's nuclear agency and provide guarantees on biological weapons.
Mr Blair said Britain had been engaged in talks with Libya for nine months.
Tony Blair applauded the move
""Libya came to us in March following successful negotiations on Lockerbie to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issue in a similarly co-operative manner," he said.
Friday's decision entitled Libya to rejoin the international community, Mr Blair said.
"It shows that problems of proliferation can, with good will, be tackled through discussion and engagement, to be followed up by the responsible international agencies.
"It demonstrates that countries can abandon programmes voluntarily and peacefully."
Mr Blair contrasted Libya's voluntary relinquishment of weapons of mass destruction with Iraq's defiance, which led to military action and the toppling of leader Saddam Hussein.
During three weeks in October and early December, a team of experts from Britain and the US had visited Libya and gained access to projects, including uranium enrichment, under way at more than 10 sites.
The team had also been shown "significant quantities" of chemical agent and bombs designed to carry it, British officials said.
The Libyan Government said it had shown the experts equipment that could have been used to develop "internationally banned weapons".
It said it had now decided to abandon the programme of its own "free will " and to admit weapons inspectors.
Libya called on other countries to follow its lead.
It said: "By taking this initiative, (Libya) wants all countries to follow its steps, starting with the Middle East, without any exception or double standards."
BBC world affairs editor John Simpson says Libya has not been at the centre of the war on terror, but has always been regarded as a "friend of terrorists" - and had, for example, helped the IRA in the 1970s.
BBC Jerusalem correspondent James Reynolds said Israel would be "surprised and relieved" by the announcement.
"Israel's main hope will be that the announcement puts additional pressure on Iran."
But he added: "It may also refocus attention on Israel's own nuclear weapons programme."
Video:-
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
"This decision by Colonel Gaddafi will make the region and the world more secure"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39658000/rm/_39658915_libya_blair_stmnt_vi.ram
The BBC's Reeta Chakrabarti
"Tony Blair couldn't contain his satisfaction at the news"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39659000/rm/_39659181_libya06_chakrabarti_vi.ram
Gaddafi: In from the cold
By Paul Reynolds BBC News Online world affairs correspondent
The sudden announcement that Libya is giving up its ambitions to develop weapons of mass destruction is a major step in the effort led by the United States to stop their spread around the world.
Libya is trying to repair international relations
The move by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and the capture of Saddam Hussein are two very welcome seasonal presents for President Bush and Prime Minister Blair.
It was natural that they should both have rushed in front of the cameras to make the announcement, a race which Mr Blair narrowly won.
It helps to soften the disappointment of failing to find weapons in Iraq.
And it shows that countries can be persuaded not to go down the path of developing these weapons.
The message to North Korea and Iran in particular is clear. If you co-operate, there will be rewards. If you do not, there will be dangers.
Colonel's initiative
Colonel Gaddafi appears to have got the message of Iraq - that developing such weapons or even showing an interest in them is highly dangerous.
He was ready for such a move, which Mr Blair revealed came at the Libyan leader's own initiative in March, the very moment when Saddam Hussein was being driven out of power.
At the same time, Libya signalled that it was ready to pay compensation for the Lockerbie bomb, which it did in August.
Colonel Gaddafi appears to have got the message of Iraq - that developing such weapons or even showing an interest in them is highly dangerous
United Nations sanctions were lifted and Colonel Gaddafi began to come in from the cold. He had seen which way the wind was blowing.
Given what happened to Saddam Hussein, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi can reckon himself fortunate to have got away with, in effect, a fine.
At the time, the US deputy UN ambassador James Cunningham said that the vote "must not be misconstrued by Libya or by the world community as tacit US acceptance that the government of Libya has rehabilitated itself.
"The United States continues to have serious concerns about other aspects of Libyan behaviour, including its poor human rights record, its rejection of democratic norms and standards, its irresponsible behaviour in Africa, its history of involvement in terrorism and most important, its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery," he said.
We now know that he was being serious about those weapons and the rockets to go with them.
'Sponsor of terrorism'
It has often been alleged that Libya was trying to develop chemical weapons, though the extent of this programme was unclear.
Mr Bush mentioned biological and nuclear programmes as well. Of those, even less is known.
It is an amazing turnaround for Colonel Gaddafi, whose own compound was bombed on the orders of Ronald Reagan in 1986
Until the US is satisfied that the Colonel will live up to his promises, the remaining US sanctions will not be removed.
These are a ban on trade, including oil, and penalties for non-US companies which invest more than $20m a year in Libya's oil industry.
And Washington still classifies Libya as a state sponsor of terrorism.
But Mr Bush also said that the "path is open" to normalising relations, so that will probably come in due course.
It is an amazing turnaround for Colonel Gaddafi, whose own compound was bombed on the orders of Ronald Reagan in 1986.
He has also supplied the IRA with weapons.
Now he is being lauded by both the US and the UK.
Libya remains a major oil producer. It is seventh in the Opec oil cartel's top 10.