Government to urge Libyan co-operation

[6 August 2002]

Government to urge Libyan co-operation with international community

Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien sets off today (6 August) as the first British Minister to visit Libya since 1983.

The focus of his visit will be to encourage Libya's co-operation with the international community and to discuss how to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries.

Mr O'Brien said:

"A Libya which cooperates fully with the international community, including on terrorism, is very much in our interests. Our judgement is that in the case of Libya, we are more likely to achieve this by encouragement rather than isolation."

"My visit comes after four years of critical engagement with Libya, an engagement that has produced some results. My message for the Libyan leadership is that we want to see further progress on the outstanding issues between us, on terrorism and on weapons of mass destruction."

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