Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/27/2004

TYPE=ENGLISH PROGRAMS REPORT

TITLE=Libya Europe React

NUMBER=4-0192

BYLINE=Yackee

PHONE=202-203-4300

DATELINE=Washington

ENGLISH PROGRAMS REPORT

Inserts are available in Dalet - SOD/English News Now/Reports

INTRO: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has declared Libya is committed to playing a major role in seeking to achieve world peace. He spoke today (Tuesday) as he arrived at European Union headquarters in Brussels on his first visit to Europe in 15 years. We have reaction to the trip in this report by VOA's Susan Yackee:

TEXT: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's visit to Brussels and his talks with European Union officials are the latest signs of warming relations with Western governments after Libya announced it was scrapping efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.

The talks coincide with the release of a new Amnesty International report which finds the Libyan government continues to violate basic human rights including unfair trials, torture and a lack of free speech. However, Sara Hamood, a campaigner in the North Africa team of Amnesty International, says with the visit of Moammar Gadhafi to Europe, Libya is at a crossroads.

Begin Hamood Act 1

It can choose to really deliver on its promises to respect human rights. And that is what we hope it will do now. In the context of Colonel Gadhafi's visit to Brussels we hope that the European Union will send a very strong signal that in the context of negotiations with Libya on partnership that they will from the outset insist that Libya not only talk the right talk but also delivers on the promises that it has to respect human rights.

End Hamood Act 1

Ms. Hamood says there have been some improvements in human rights in Libya in recent years, but more needs to be done.

Begin Hamood Act 2

The country has begun to open up to some degree of international scrutiny. Other positive developments have been the releases in 2001 and 2002 of scores of political prisoners. So we see some movement, but what we are yet to see is the real institutional and structural reforms that is required to really make a tangible difference.

End Hamood Act 2

Sara Hamood with Amnesty International in London. She says the Human Rights organization was allowed to go on its first fact finding trip in 15 years to Libya in February, during which researchers were given good access to all level of authorities including Moammar Gadhafi.

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