Published: September 18, 2005

Discussions Point Way To Better U.S.-Libyan Relations: Rice

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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that discussions with Libyan Foreign Minister Abd al-Rahman Shalgam point the way toward "better and better relations" between the Libyan and U.S. governments and people.

Speaking September 17 at a joint appearance with Shalgam in New York, where the United Nations General Assembly is holding its 60th session, Rice took particular note of Libya's "historic decision of get rid of its weapons of mass destruction."

The brief joint appearance augmented a written joint statement, which notes that their discussion had covered issues including "expansion of the U.S.-Libya relationship, reform issues, human rights, and cooperation on counter-terrorism and elimination of weapons of mass destruction."

In the statement, Rice expressed appreciation for Libya's efforts to resolve the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan and of Libyan cooperation in the global war on terror, while Shalgam reaffirmed Libya's renunciation of terrorism in all its forms and its commitment "to continue cooperating in the international fight against terrorism."

Asked at their joint appearance about developments in Iran, Rice said Iran "needs to return to negotiations" on its nuclear development program -- negotiations that it unilaterally ended.

Past behavior "has left the world with a lack of confidence" in Iran's willingness to live up to its International Atomic Energy Agency obligations, she said.

Source: U.S. Department of State