WASHINGTON, 27 February 2004 — The United States yesterday eased its punishing sanctions on Libya.
“US companies with pre-sanctions holdings in Libya will be authorized as of today to negotiate their reentry into operations in Libya,” the White House said in a statement.
Earlier, the Bush administration lifted US travel restrictions on Libya as part of its reward for giving up programs to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
The easing of restrictions will allow companies to make preparations in anticipation for an eventual broader lifting of sanctions.
Washington also urged Tripoli to bolster diplomatic ties and lay the groundwork for eventually normalizing relations by establishing an interests section in Washington.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan announced the series of rewards.
“The United States invites Libya to establish an interests section in Washington, to facilitate our cooperation in the elimination of WMD and to lay the foundation for more extensive diplomatic relations in the future. We will continue to augment our US-staffed interests section in Tripoli,” McClellan said.
After Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi in December pledged to disclose and dismantle all of his country’s nuclear, chemical and biological programs, the United States has held out the prospect of fully normalized ties at some point.
