The Hindu : Libya can be partner, says Blair

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 26, 2004

International

International

Libya can be partner, says Blair

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair (left), and the Libyan leader, Muammar Qadhafi, in Tripoli on Thursday. — AP

TRIPOLI, MARCH 25. Libya can be an important partner in the war against terror if it fulfills its pledge to scrap its weapons of mass destruction, said the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on Thursday following a historic meeting with Muammar Qadhafi.

Mr. Blair lauded Col. Qadhafi's progress in dismantling his chemical, nuclear and biological programmes, under plans he announced in December, and said his cooperation with Britain and the United States sent a strong signal to the Arab world.

``Libya's voluntary and open implementation of the decision of (December) gives us real hope we can build a new relationship with it for the modern world,'' Mr. Blair said.

``I was particularly struck by Col. Qadhafi's insistence at our earlier meeting not only of Libya's determination to carry on down this path of cooperation, but also his recognition that Libya's own future is best secured by a new relationship with the outside world and of a common cause with us in the fight against Al-Qaeda extremism and terrorism, which threatens not just the West but Arab nations, too.''

In return for Libya's cooperation, Mr. Blair said Britain would strengthen cultural links and offer the North African state military cooperation.

Without providing details, Mr. Blair said he would appoint a British general as the U.K. defence coordinator for Libya ``that will offer Libya a chance of a new military relationship with the U.K.''

Mr. Blair spoke to reporters after an hour and a half's meeting with Col. Qadhafi, the first by a British leader since Col. Qadhafi seized power in 1969. The visit marked a major step back into the international mainstream for the North African state.

After a red carpet welcome, Col. Qadhafi and Mr. Blair met in a tent in the desert, a herd of camels nearby. The two leaders sat on low chairs, chatting through an interpreter in a tent hung with green and yellow tapestries of camels and palm trees.

``It is good to be here at last after so many months,'' Mr. Blair said.

Col. Qadhafi responded initially in Arabic, then in English: ``You did a lot of fighting on this issue and seem exhausted.'' Britain has taken the diplomatic lead in ending Libya's international isolation.

``I think it is a very important visit,'' said the Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdel-Rahman Shalqam. ``Libya and Britain play a very important role in this region of North Africa and the African continent. We have the same obligations. We are going to exchange our views and analyses together.'' Mr. Shalqam said Libya had warned of the dangers of Al-Qaeda in the 1980s and 1990s ``when Europe and even America were supporting these people.''

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