DATE=7/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-252049
TITLE=CONGRESS-LIBYA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE IS LOOKING INTO PROSPECTS
FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH LIBYA. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS
A TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TOLD THE PANEL THE U-S
APPROACH SHOULD MIX HOPE AND CAUTION.
TEXT: IN THE LAST YEAR, LIBYA HAS MADE A SERIES OF OVERTURES TO
THE WEST. BUT ONE OF AMERICA'S LEADING DIPLOMATS FOR THE NEAR
EAST INDICATES THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN RELATIONS ANY TIME
SOON.
(DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE) RONALD NEUMAN TOLD THE
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA THAT WASHINGTON WANTS MORE THAN JUST
WORDS.
/// FIRST NEUMANN ACT ///
WE ACKNOWLEDGE LIBYA'S RECENT DECLARATION OF ITS
INTENTION TO TURN OVER A NEW PAGE. BUT, GIVEN ITS
HISTORY, SUCH STATEMENTS ARE NOT ENOUGH.
///END ACT///
WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, LIBYA MET ONE KEY U-S DEMAND WHEN IT TURNED
OVER TWO SUSPECTS WANTED IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN
JETLINER OVER SCOTLAND. BUT MR. NEUMANN TOLD THE SUBCOMMITTEE
OTHER CONDITIONS FOR LIFTING AMERICAN SANCTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN
MET.
/// SECOND NEUMAN ACT ///
POSITIVE ACTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL IF LIBYA IS TO BE
RE-INTEGRATED INTO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY,
BEGINNING WITH FULL COOPERATION WITH THE PAN AM 103
TRIAL AND FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE REMAINING U-N
SECURITY COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS.
/// END ACT ///
THE COUNCIL CALLED ON LIBYA TO RENOUNCE TERRORISM, ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS OF ITS OFFICIALS AND PAY
COMPENSATION SHOULD THE PAN AM TRIAL END IN CONVICTION.
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ED ROYCE TOLD MR. NEUMANN ALL THE ISSUES
CITED BY THE UNITED NATIONS ARE IMPORTANT. BUT THE CALIFORNIA
REPUBLICAN STRESSED THE UNITED STATES HAS ADDITIONAL CONCERNS.
THEY INCLUDE EFFORTS BY LIBYA TO DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION AND ITS SUPPORT FOR REBEL GROUPS IN PLACES LIKE
SIERRA LEONE.
/// ROYCE ACT ///
LIBYA ALSO HAS EMERGED AS A DIPLOMATIC PLAYER, INJECTING
ITSELF INTO THE SUDAN, THE ETHIOPIA-ERITREA CONFLICT AND
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO CONFLICT.
SOMETIMES IT HAS DONE THIS IN THE GUISE OF PEACEMAKER,
SOMETIMES IT HAS DONE IT AS ARMS SUPPLIER.
/// END ACT ///
MR. ROYCE SAID IT IS CLEAR LIBYA'S INTERNATIONAL PROFILE IS
CHANGING. BUT HE QUICKLY ADDED IT IS HARD TO GAUGE THE DEPTH OF
THE CHANGE OR EVEN IF IT IS AN IMPROVEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/TVM/GM
22-Jul-99 5:46 PM EDT (2146 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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