United States Department of State (Washington, DC)
5 September 2008
(Page 2 of 4)
We actually can have this discussion now with Libya in a manner that we couldn't before because we have an Embassy in Tripoli, and it represents itself to the Libyan Government on a daily basis on issues of concern to the United States. Of course, when the Secretary visits, she’ll put into her own words all these subjects and we’ll let you know afterwards, in general, how it went, Sue.
QUESTION: But would you – would you see it as a goodwill gesture for Muammar Qadhafi to release Fathi al-Jahmi?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Well, we think he should have been released before. You know, I think you can be confident that we have a long record of having discussed this with the Libyan Government. And it’s not the only bilateral issue, by the way. There are others, too. And one sign of a maturing relationship is that each side can be honest to each other about such things.
QUESTION: What’s the – I don’t understand why – why is she doing this trip when the mechanism hasn’t been funded yet?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Well, first of all, having the mechanism is a significant and important change from the past.
QUESTION: Well, it’s a mechanism that’s got – it’s empty.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Well, bank accounts can be empty or they can be full.
QUESTION: Right. So –
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: And our belief is this one is – they are looking at ways to fund it. And I am confident that they will do so. However, if I’m wrong and it is not funded, then none of the American obligations under this agreement kick into effect until it is fully funded.
QUESTION: I understand that. But I just – but why the trip before that?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Well, the trip was never conditioned on this or on any other issue.
QUESTION: I’m not suggesting that it was or – I’m asking why it wasn’t.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: It’s the same question, one way or the other. We do this kind of diplomatic engagement because we have a range of interests, and this is an important one, and we expect to see it satisfied. And we think that this visit is a good way to advance it.
QUESTION: Okay. And do you know – are there any – I know that this is going to come up in Algiers, but are there any Libyans in Guantanamo?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Yes, there are.
QUESTION: And so -- substantial? I’ll go back and look, but I mean, is it more than five, more than – is it a handful or is – because there have been problems, I know the Algerians, especially, that people have been repatriated and then arrive back in Algeria and all of a sudden, they’ve disappeared. I presume that’s something you’re going to bring up in Algiers. What exactly on this issue are you going to bring up --
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Well, the detainee issues vary from place to place. And I want to be cautious on this because -- I’ll discuss it in broad terms. But I expect this to be a topic of conversation in each of the Secretary’s stops. And again, the circumstances vary. With respect to Algeria, my understanding is the current status of the two individuals returned is that they’ve been released. So there’s no issue of their disappearance. But that said, our goals are for those who are not going to be sub judice in the United States in some manner or under our system, that we would like to look for ways to repatriate them. And in all cases, we’ll be raising that with the governments concerned, including Libya.
QUESTION: Do you know how many are –
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: I can’t remember exactly, but these are not the largest populations there by a long shot. But no number is insignificant in this regard. My objective for that area for which I am responsible, the NEA area, is to reduce that number to zero.
MR. WOOD: Libby.
QUESTION: David, Libby Leist, NBC. What can you tell us about this Trade and Investment Framework Agreement which says – that she says is going to be signed in the near future? How long –
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Well, we have a number of initiatives underway with Libya and there may be -- I think Sue asked me before if we intend to announce anything. But we want to look at ways in which we can move things forward on those issues of concern to us.
And – but, Libby, just generally speaking, the philosophy here is to look at ways to deepen our relationship. We think that that’s going to be in Libya’s interest. We think it will be in the United States interest. A trade and investment framework agreement is a vehicle to enhancing and regularizing the economic relationship. As you know, Libya is a small country in population terms, but a wealthy country in resource terms. And that’s of interest to many American firms. They have a considerable oil export potential, and we would like to be involved in that. But it’s – their regulatory environment, their economic policy environment is less mature than it is in other countries in the immediate area. So we’re looking at ways to work with and to develop that better. We think that will help Libya because it will attract more business interest in the country. And of course, it will help us in commercial and economic terms as well.
The TIFA agreements are typically a precursor to broader, more established trade relationships. We have quite a number throughout the NEA area. I can’t – I don’t think I have that off the top of my head exactly. But it is a sign of a maturing relationship.
QUESTION: Yes. Joyce Karam with Al Hayat. Thanks for doing this. Historically, there has been a lot of concerns from countries in the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, most recently Iraq – over Libyan role, mostly in terrorism. You said before that the Libyans have committed to not to have any role in terrorism anymore. What role do you see, you know, specifically related to these countries, Libya taking? How do you see, you know, Libyan-Saudi relations going from here? And also, have you been talking to the Europeans about this? Are the Europeans, mostly the French, happy with the openness of Washington to Tripoli?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: Well, it’s a difficult question, Joyce, for me to answer, because I represent the United States and not these other countries, and they much better positioned to speak with respect to their interests. Some of the countries you mention already have quite advanced relationships with Libya. The French President has visited Libya. A British Prime Minister visited. So Europe is, I think, if anything, well ahead of us in this respect.
Saudi Arabia has a normal diplomatic relationship with Libya, despite some tensions in the past between them, as you know. You know, from time to time, other countries I see in the news do raise issues of the past. That’s up to them how they pursue them. It is a reality and a very uncomfortable one in the U.S.-Libyan relationship that there have been these very difficult and painful episodes.
We’ve tried to help American citizens address these in the most fair and responsible way. I believe we’ve done a good job of helping and protecting Americans in that respect. But some part of helping and protecting Americans is also by pushing forward on our national interest in dealing with this country, especially as we expect that that is based upon cooperation against terror in the future. That’s the undertaking the Libyan Government has made not simply to the United States, but to the UN Security Council.
MR. WOOD: How about here, and then we’ll go (inaudible).
QUESTION: Bay Fang with the Chicago Tribune. You may have touched on this when you briefed on the claims settlement agreement, but I was wondering if that kind of agreement can be used as a precedent for other cases pending in the U.S. courts about sort of acts of terrorism, like the ones that are pending against the Palestinian Authority. Has there been any discussion about that?
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