^{U.S. - Libya Re-Engagement:}

^{The Path Forward}

Washington, D.C. – As the Bush administration prepares to remove Libya from its list of nations that sponsor terrorism, the U.S.-Libya Business Association (USLBA) and the Middle East Institute (MEI) held the first high-level review of relations between the two countries since diplomatic relations were restored.  The standing-room only event, held last week at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., brought together leading policymakers, government officials and business executives from the two countries to examine and map out the next steps in U.S.-Libya relations.   

"We were excited to hold this important, high-level forum where officials from the United States and Libya laid out the blueprints on how our countries will engage in diplomatic, export and trade issues after Libya is removed from the terrorism list,” said David Goldwyn, Executive Director, USLBA.  “This event was indispensable for anyone who needs to understand the relationship and how it will impact new trade and investment opportunities.”

 At the landmark conference, entitled “U.S.-Libya Re-Engagement: The Path Forward,” Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) called for full restoration of diplomatic relations, noting that “the Libyan model is the most powerful demonstration that the U.S. will take ‘yes’ for an answer.” He also noted that the country was at the “top of the list” of U.S. foreign policy successes.  Assistant Secretary of State David Welch declared that “Libya has put its terrorist past behind it,” and announced that he would be traveling to Tripoli next month to “lay the groundwork for the new relationship.”

Dr. Taher E. Jehaimi, Libya’s Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Planning, made the country’s first ministerial visit to the U.S. since normalization at the conference.  He talked in-depth about how his country plans to move from a command to market economy, and also invited the U.S.-Libyan Business Association to lead a delegation of its members to Libya this year. The invitation to USLBA is the first time the Libyan government has invited a U.S. organization to Tripoli to discuss new trade and business opportunities.  

 The one day conference included panels on “Diplomatic Outlook for U.S.-Libya Relations and Economic Reform,” “Commercial Prospects in Libya,” and “Prospects for Development and Reform in Libya’s Energy Sector.”  Participating in those discussions were Ali Suleiman Aujali, Chief of the Libyan Liaison Office; Douglas Bell, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Middle East and North Africa; Mohamad Elhage, Deputy Division Chief, Middle East and Central Asia Department, International Monetary Fund (IMF); and Alan P. Larson, former Under Secretary, Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, State Department and Senior Advisor, Covington & Burling

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