Libya's decision to surrender its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program could remove the Arab state from the US list of terrorist-supporting nations, subsequently ending sanctions and the return of US oil companies.
Libya’s Prime Minister Shukri Ghanem told Western media on Sunday that the Arab state’s decision to surrender its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) was prompted by a need to boost its economy, which is heavily dependent on the oil sector.
“We are turning our swords into ploughshares and this step should be appreciated and followed by all other countries," Ghanem told BBC , adding that economic progress was more vital than weapon development.
In response to the Libyan gesture, US President Bush praised the nation and said that: “leaders who abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States."
The UN Security Council ended 11-year-old sanctions against Libya in September after the Arab state finalized compensation agreements for the Pan Am and UTA airline bombings it was held responsible for in the late eighties. The release of billions of dollars in compensation for the families of the victims paved the way for international investment. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
