Russia, Libya boost ties
2001-05-07 10:43
Tunis - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
arrived in Tripoli on Sunday for a two-day official visit during
which he is expected to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi
and hold talks aimed at boosting trade and military ties.
Libyan state television monitored in Tunis showed Ivanov
being greeted warmly by Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed
Abderrahmane Chalgam.
Earlier Russia's Interfax news agency said Ivanov would
hand Gaddafi a message from President Vladimir Putin and
discuss plans for a possible visit to Moscow by the Libyan
leader.
Ivanov's visit forms part of Russian moves to shore up
relations with former Soviet allies, including countries dubbed
"rogue states" by the United States.
Putin has visited North Korea and Pyongyang's leader Kim
Jong-il is expected to visit Moscow later this year. Senior
Russian officials have also visited Iran and Iraq.
"(Ivanov's visit) reflects the programme of diversifying
Russia's foreign policy contacts, in which it is purposefully
activating its foreign policy in the Middle East and Africa,"
Interfax quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Sredin as
saying.
Russia backs the complete lifting of UN sanctions imposed
on Tripoli after the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over
Lockerbie in Scotland. The sanctions were suspended when
Libya handed over the two suspects for trial in 1999.
A Libyan man was found guilty of the bombing in January
and another as acquitted. But Britain and the United States
say sanctions can only be lifted completely once Tripoli
accepts responsibility for the attack and pays compensation.