*EPF216 06/29/2004
Text: Possible Links Between Libyan Leaders, Saudi Dissidents Probed
(State Dept says allegations have not derailed diplomatic normalization) (360)

U.S. officials have questioned Libyan leaders about alleged contacts with Saudi dissidents seeking to topple the Saudi royal family and have received assurances that Libya "would not support the use of violence for settling political differences with any state," according to a June 28 State Department statement.

The statement, issued in response to a question taken at the June 28 daily briefing, said that Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns and Coordinator for Counterterrorism Cofer Black discussed Libya's commitment to repudiate political violence during their June 28 meetings with the Libyan leadership in Tripoli.

Following that meeting, Burns established the new U.S. Liaison Office in Tripoli.

Following is the statement issued in response to the taken question:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
June 28, 2004

Question Taken at June 28, 2004 Daily Press Briefing

Question: Is the issue of an alleged Libyan plot against the Saudi crown prince holding up formal establishment of a U.S. Liaison Office?

Answer: On June 28, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Bill Burns; and Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Ambassador-at-large, Cofer Black; met with Senior Libyan officials in Tripoli. The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss Libya's commitment to support the global war on terrorism and to repudiate the use of violence for political purposes. After the meetings, Assistant Secretary Burns issued a statement, in which he formally inaugurated the new U.S. Liaison Office in Tripoli and the resumption of direct diplomatic ties.

In response to reports last year that Libya was in contact with Saudi dissidents who have threatened violence against the Saudi royal family in the past, we immediately raised our concerns directly with the Libyan leadership, which assured us it would not support the use of violence for settling political differences with any state.

As part of the process of reviewing Libya's overall record in renouncing support for terrorism, we are monitoring Libya's behavior carefully and will use every opportunity to reinforce our concerns in high-level meetings, as we did today.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents