Reuters March 9, 2004
Libya may be allowed to keep some Scud missiles
By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - After giving up its nuclear and chemical weapons programs, Libya may be allowed to keep scores of Scud ballistic missiles, which Tripoli argues are needed for defensive purposes, a senior U.S. official said on Monday.
Libya's more advanced missiles, five Scud C missiles produced with North Korean help, are on a ship that is carrying 500 metric tons of nuclear and missile-related materials to the United States for study, safekeeping and possible destruction.
But the Scud B missiles -- which are of shorter-range and are considered to be in aging condition -- remain in Libya and the North African nation may be allowed to retain them, said the senior U.S. official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"We're still in discussion with them on this. ... There may be an option," the official said.
As part of an agreement to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction, Libya pledged to give up all missiles covered by the Missile Technology Control Regime, a 17-year-old informal international accord that seeks to limit the spread of missiles capable of delivering nuclear, chemical and biological arms.
The MTCR covers missiles capable of delivering a 500 kilogram (1,100 miles) payload to a range of 300 kilometers (188 miles).
CIA Director George Tenet told Congress last month the Libyan Scud Cs have a range of 800 kilometers (500 miles) and were produced with North Korean cooperation.
The Scud Bs were bought from the Soviet Union in the 1970s but the CIA has reported that U.N. sanctions from 1992 to 1999 has severely limited Libya's ability to maintain this arsenal.
"The Scud Bs are pretty old. If you had to make a choice between Scud Cs and Scud Bs -- which one would you eliminate first -- we got the right ones," the senior U.S. official said.
OLD TECHNOLOGY
He did not have a precise figure on the number of Libyan Scud Bs but globalsecurity.org, an authoritative source for weapons data, said Libya's inventory consisted of 80 Scud B launchers and possibly three times as many missiles.
Some expert sources have put the Scud B range at 300 kilometers with a 985 kilogram payload.
The U.S. official said that for Libya to be allowed to keep its arsenal of Scud Bs, the missiles would have to be "reconfigured to meet the (MTCR) requirements."
But eliminating the missiles also remains an option. "That's an issue still to be resolved," he said.
The official said the Libyans have argued that they need the weapons for defensive purposes.
"We'll be taking a look at whether there are defensive things that could happen instead (of leaving Libya with the Scud B missiles). Are there shorter-range systems that could meet their needs?" he said.
The Americans are talking with Libya about possibly reconfiguring the missiles while the British, who are partners with Washington in the Libyan dismantlement agreement, are discussing non-missile defense needs with Tripoli, the official said.
For now, U.S. officials are constrained by U.S. sanctions on Libya from discussing most defense issues, including the provision of military assistance.
Libya announced in December it would abandon efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and has allowed U.S. inspectors to search its weapons sites and to remove sensitive equipment.
In a major step toward completing its pledged disarmament, Libya last Saturday sent to the United States all the equipment believed to remain of its nuclear weapons program, along with its longer-range missiles and launchers.
The ship is bound for an undisclosed destination in the United States.
The shipment included all of Libya's known centrifuge parts used to enrich uranium, and all equipment from its former uranium conversion facility. The White House said the ship was also carrying all of Libya's longer-range missiles, including five Scuds, and all associated equipment, including launchers.
© Copyright 2004, Reuters
