Cablegate: Libya Agrees "in Principle" to Political-Military Dialogue

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, PM/RSAT (TOM MANCINELLI), PM/WRA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/21/2020 TAGS: MASS MARR MCAP MOPS PARM PGOV LY

SUBJECT: LIBYA AGREES "IN PRINCIPLE" TO POLITICAL-MILITARY DIALOGUE REF: STATE 284 CLASSIFIED BY: Yael Lempert, A/DCM, U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)

1.(C) In response to Post's January 5 diplomatic note to Libya's Ministry-equivalent of Foreign Affairs (MFA), soliciting GOL proposals to develop the timing and substance of the inaugural bilateral political-military dialogue (reftel), we received a diplomatic note from the Libyan government on January 21. The GOL response recognizes the importance of the dialogue and its role in "sharing and reconciling between regional and international viewpoints." The correspondence further notes Libyan approval of the political-military dialogue "in principle," and that the MFA's Americas Desk will inform Post of a "suitable date to conduct" the dialogue.

2.(C) On January 18, the MFA informed the Ambassador that National Security Advisor (NSA) Mutassim al-Qadhafi's office was reviewing Post's request. Qadhafi's office confirmed to Pol/Econ Chief on January 19 that the NSA was formulating input for the suggested agenda and developing a list of participants for the Libyan side.

2.(SBU) Post will report future MFA responses on this issue septel. Full text of the diplomatic note follows: Begin text: "The General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (Americas Office) sends its compliments to the U.S. Embassy in the Great Jamahiriya. Further to the esteemed Embassy's dip note number 020/10 dated January 5, [2010] regarding the Political-Military Dialogue; it would like to underline the importance of the dialogue and its role in sharing and reconciling between regional and international viewpoints; and it has the honor to inform the esteemed Embassy of the Libyan side's in-principle approval of this dialogue. Americas Desk will inform the esteemed U.S. Embassy of the suitable date to conduct it. The General People's Committee Secretariat for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (Americas Office) avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the esteemed U.S. Embassy the assurances of its highest considerations." End text. CRETZ

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