DATE=3/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - LIBYA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260492
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A delegation of U-S officials is heading to
Libya this week to determine if a U-S travel ban
should remain in place. But as V-O-A's Kyle King
reports from the State Department, officials say the
visit does not signal an overall change in policy
toward the Libyan government, which remains on the U-S
list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
TEXT: The U-S delegation is expected to arrive in
Libya Saturday after meeting with Belgian officials
who represent U-S diplomatic interests in Libya.
The purpose of the trip is to evaluate the security
situation and the continued need for an 18-year-old
ban on travel to the North African country.
The timing of the visit has angered relatives of those
killed in the bombing of Pan Am fight 103, which went
down over Lockerbie Scotland in 1988. Preparations
are now underway for the trial of two Libyan suspects
in the bombing, and some of the victim's relatives
feel the United States is moving to ease sanctions.
State Department Spokesman James Rubin disagrees with
that view. He says the decision to send a delegation
to assess the security situation does not reflect a
larger policy change.
/// RUBIN ACT ///
This is not about Libyan policy in general. The
United States does not believe that Libya has
satisfied all the requirements necessary to be
removed from the terrorism list, although there
have been some positive steps, there remain
substantial steps for Libya to take, including
disassociation with certain [terror] groups.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Rubin says the State Department office that
monitors travel bans told Secretary of State Albright
last November that the overall security situation in
Libya had improved. At that time he says she decided
to delay any decision on lifting the ban.
Officials say they want to re-evaluate the situation
now because the number of non-American travelers to
Libya has grown since the United Nations lifted
sanctions last year. The U-N sanctions were lifted
after Libya's handover of the two suspects in the Pan
Am bombing.
Despite the U-S decision to send a delegation to
Tripoli, officials say Libya still has a long way to
go before it meets the standards required for it to be
removed of the U-S list of state sponsors of
terrorism. (signed)
NEB/KBK/gm
22-Mar-2000 16:15 PM EDT (22-Mar-2000 2115 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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