June 4, 1999
UNITED NATIONS - The United States and Libya will hold direct talks next week, the first step toward resuming official contact after diplomatic relations were severed 18 years ago, diplomats said Thursday. Secretary-General Kofi Annan arranged the meeting at Washington's request, the diplomats said on condition of anonymity. The meeting is set for June 11 in Annan's chambers. Deputy US Ambassador Peter Burleigh, Libyan Ambassador Abuzed Omar Dorda, British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock and Annan are expected to discuss what Libya needs to do to have UN sanctions lifted.
Sanctions, which include an arms and air embargo, were suspended April 5 when Libya turned over two suspects wanted in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jetliner that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.
Next month, Annan must report to the Security Council on whether Libya deserves to have the 7-year-old measures lifted entirely, based on his assessment of Tripoli's compliance with demands regarding the crash investigation and the bombing of a French UTA jet in 1989. Under Security Council resolutions, Libya must cooperate with the Lockerbie trial, which is being conducted in the Netherlands under Scottish law, in order for sanctions to be removed. Because Annan won't be able to assess the level of cooperation, the trial will not begin before July 28 and will likely be postponed -- the United States will oppose the lifting of sanctions, a US official said on condition of anonymity. While Washington still considers Moammar Gadhafi's government a pariah state, its desire for a meeting is an important step in ending Libya's isolation. US officials have said privately that a resumption of diplomatic relations, broken in 1981, would likely be raised at the talks. Britain broke diplomatic ties with Libya in 1984
