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Washington not to lift sanctions against Libya

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Aug. 18. The Bush administration has said that it will keep the American sanctions against Libya in spite of that country accepting responsibility for bringing down a Pan Am commercial liner over Scotland in 1988.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said that while the U.S. would not oppose the United Nations lifting of sanctions against Libya, American punitive measures — including the designation as one of the sponsors of terrorism — would remain in place.

"The lifting of sanctions at the United Nations will not affect U.S. bilateral sanctions on Libya, which will remain in place", Gen Powell has said going on to list Washington's concerns on such issues as human rights, Libya's role in regional conflicts and its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction along with delivery systems.

"Libya also remains on the state sponsors of terrorism list which carries its own sanctions. Libya must address the concerns underlying these bilateral measures. Libya must continue to take definitive action to assist in the fight against international terrorism.".

The economic sanctions on the oil rich Libya include not only travel restrictions but also restraints on what American business houses could do in that country.

On Friday Libya formally accepted responsibility for the bringing down of Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland that killed 270 persons.

A letter was delivered to the Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations who is now currently the President of the Security Council for the month of August.

The Libyan Ambassador has written that his Government "accepts the responsibility for the actions of its officials" and that the country is "committed to be cooperative in the international fight against terrorism".

The settlement included a $ 2.7 billion deal with the victims of the family, each of whom will be getting between $ 5 millions and $ 10 Millions from a fund that will be deposited by Libya in an international bank next week.

Unnamed administration officials have said that the U.S. is not likely to vote for the U.N. resolution for the lifting of sanctions against Libya.

Washington is expected to abstain rather than go along with the British resolution.

The U.N. sanctions include a ban on arms sales and air links to Libya; but these were suspended in 1999 after the country handed over two agents who were indicted in the Pan Am bombing.

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