US warns Libya to stop “destabilizing” activities in Africa
WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (AFP) — The United States warned Libya that its climbdown on weapons of mass destruction must be matched by a commitment to stop “destabilizing” activities throughout Africa.
Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations committee that Libya’s agreement to stand down in its quest for banned weapons was a “real breakthrough.”
But he signalled that Libya could not expect a full relationship with Washington until it moderated its behavior in other areas.
“Libya, over the years, has shifted its attention and focus to different parts of Africa. When it sort of fails in one part of Africa, it sort of pops up elsewhere, fomenting difficulty.”
“We have made sure that what we discussed is their activities in Africa, which must cease to be destabilizing, cease to fund despotic regimes and cease to cause trouble.
“We are not unmindful of the nature of that regime still, and we are not unmindful of some of the unhelpful activities they have participated in over the years, to include unhelpful activities in all parts of Africa.”
Powell did not elaborate on the Libyan activities to which he was referring, but in the past, the State Department has expressed concern at Libyan involvement in sub-Saharan Africa, and its role in disputes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Libya has also been accused in the United States of using financial assistance to build its influence in Africa, including granting aid or oil subsidies to nations like Niger and Zimbabwe, a US foe.
Powell on Wednesday told the House International Relations committee that Libya was doing “very, very well” in dismantling its weapons of mass destruction and has exceeded expectations.
His assessment coincided with a startling easing of tensions between Washington and Tripoli since Libya promised to come clean on its banned weapons programs last year.
The United States said Tuesday that a US diplomat was working full time in Libya for the first time since the United States broke off diplomatic relations in 1981.
The US attitude toward Libya has undergone a dramatic change since leader Moamer Kadhafi last year ended 15 years of wrangling over how to settle the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Libya also approached Britain and the United States early last year to say it wanted to hold talks about its banned weapons development.