The United States will consider a request from Libya to pay for dismantling its chemical and nuclear weapons programme, Congressman Curt Weldon said on Monday during a visit to Tripoli.
Citing the example of US funding for ”threat reduction” in Russia, he told Matoug Matoug, Libya’s deputy prime minister in charge of scientific research: ”We would be interested in a similar programme in Libya, with American dollars to help you dismantle your weapons programme.”
Seven members of Congress headed by Weldon arrived in Libya on Sunday for a goodwill visit — the first since Colonel Moammar Gadaffi came to power more than 30 years ago. Another congressman, Tom Lantos, arrived separately on a visit that he said was ”sanctioned by the White House and state department”.
Lantos declined to give details of his meetings, but said: ”It is an historic moment when an Arab country decides to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction and requests assistance from the US and the UK. It has far-reaching consequences way beyond Libya.”
Financial help with the dismantling was one of the demands pressed by Colonel Gadaffi’s son, Saif, in an interview with The Guardian and another British newspaper on Sunday.
He also called on the west to help upgrade the peaceful side of Libya’s nuclear programme. ”They have to provide us with western nuclear technology that can link with our existing one for civilian purposes.”
On Monday Lentos’s group toured the Tajoura nuclear research centre, 32km outside Tripoli, where they met scientists and viewed the 10 megawatt research reactor.
”The Libyans were totally open,” said Congresswoman Candice Miller. ”There’s a sincerity here to move on a more positive path.
”We had a discussion about what they could use it [the reactor] for in a peaceful way.”
Earlier in the day, the group visited the ruins of the Gadaffi family’s house at Bab al-Aziziyya in Tripoli, which was bombed by the US in 1986, causing the death of Colonel Gadaffi’s adopted daughter.
The US congressional group said the Libyans had invited them to see the house.
”If Lockerbie is something one side has to put behind, this is something the other side has to put behind,” said Darrell Issa, a congressman of Lebanese origin. – Guardian Unlimited Â