U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Remarks

(6:00 p.m. EDT)

SECRETARY SHALGAM:   (In Arabic.)

SECRETARY RICE:  Thank you very much, Minister Shalgam.  Thank you very much for welcoming me here in Libya, and I would also like to thank Leader Qadhafi for welcoming me this evening. 

We did indeed have a wide-ranging discussion in this moment in which the United States and Libya affirmed their desire to move forward in a positive way, toward a positive relationship.  This has been made possible by difficult decisions that have been taken.  It has been made possible by the hard work of a lot of people.  It has been made possible by being able to deal as well as we can with issues of the past.  And it has been made possible because Libya and the United States, I think, have established that we have many challenges in common and we talked about those challenges. (More) 

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United States Embassy Tripoli, Libya

On May 31, 2006 the United States of America and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah exchanged diplomatic notes confirming the upgrade of the U.S. Liaison Office in Tripoli to a U.S. Embassy.  This exchange of notes follows upon Secretary Rice's announcement (reproduced below) and report to Congress on May 15 of her intent to upgrade our level of diplomatic representation with Libya.

I am pleased to announce that the United States is restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya.  We will soon open an embassy in Tripoli.  In addition, the United States intends to remove Libya from the list of designated state sponsors of terrorism.  Libya will also be omitted from the annual certification of countries not cooperating fully with United States' anti-terrorism efforts.

We are taking these actions in recognition of Libya's continued commitment to its renunciation of terrorism and the excellent cooperation Libya has provided to the United States and other members of the international community in response to common global threats faced by the civilized world since September 11, 2001.

Today's announcements are tangible results that flow from the historic decisions taken by Libya's leadership in 2003 to renounce terrorism and to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs.  As a direct result of those decisions we have witnessed the beginning of that country's re-emergence into the mainstream of the international community.  Today marks the opening of a new era in U.S.-Libya relations that will benefit Americans and Libyans alike.

Just as 2003 marked a turning point for the Libyan people so too could 2006 mark turning points for the peoples of Iran and North Korea.  Libya is an important model as nations around the world press for changes in behavior by the Iranian and North Korean regimes -- changes that could be vital to international peace and security.  We urge the leadership of Iran and North Korea to make similar strategic decisions that would benefit their citizens.

For Libya, today's announcements open the door to a broader bilateral relationship with the United States that will allow us to better discuss other issues of importance.  Those issues include protection of universal human rights, promotion of freedom of speech and expression, and expansion of economic and political reform consistent with President Bush's freedom agenda.