This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7601519.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US Libya relations in 'new phase' | US Libya relations in 'new phase' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Relations between the US and Libya have entered a "new phase", according to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. | Relations between the US and Libya have entered a "new phase", according to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. |
| Speaking after a historic meeting with Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, she said the talks were very fruitful. | Speaking after a historic meeting with Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, she said the talks were very fruitful. |
| A cultural exchange agreement would be signed, and the US hopes to have an ambassador in Tripoli soon, she said. | A cultural exchange agreement would be signed, and the US hopes to have an ambassador in Tripoli soon, she said. |
| Ms Rice added that progress had been made by making difficult decisions and by dealing as well as possible with the difficulties of the past. | Ms Rice added that progress had been made by making difficult decisions and by dealing as well as possible with the difficulties of the past. |
| Security Council | |
| The secretary of state said that the two countries had made progress in concrete ways. Gaddafi: 'Mad dog' no moreGaddafi's shrewd moveLibyans adjust to changing times | |
| "We are working on a trade investment framework which will improve the climate for investment, which I know many American firms want to do," Ms Rice said. | |
| "We are co-operating on Libya's membership of the security council of the United Nations," she said, although she pointed out that discussions were in the early stages. | |
| "The relationship (between the US and Libya) has been moving in a good direction for some time but we have a long way to go", she said, adding "we have established a good framework for our relationship." | |
| Ms Rice said she had sought to reassure Mr Gaddafi about US plans to establish a major base in Africa - known as Africom - saying its purpose was to "help Africans to help themselves" on issues such as peacekeeping. | |
| She repeated that the US did not have "any permanent enemies". | |
| When asked if she had raised human rights issues with Mr Gadaffi, Ms Rice said she had raised cases "in a respectful manner", and emphasised "that it is important to maintain an open dialogue, including on human rights". | |
| Historic visit | |
| Ms Rice is the first US Secretary of State to visit Libya since 1953. | |
| She met Mr Gaddafi at the same compound in Tripoli which was hit in US bombing raids ordered by Ronald Reagan in 1986. | |
| Libya was on the US state department list of sponsors of terrorism until 2003, when it abandoned weapons of mass destruction and renounced terrorism. | |
| Earlier this month, Libya agreed to pay compensation to families of the victims of the Lockerbie aircraft bombing, for which it formally accepted responsibility in the same year. | |
| The deal includes compensation for Libyan victims of the United States' retaliatory bombing raid over Libya in 1986. |