DATE=4/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247741
TITLE=LIBYA / SANCTIONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  NATIONAL AIRLINES FROM SEVERAL ARAB NATIONS SAY THEY WILL
SOON RESUME FLIGHTS TO LIBYA.  RICHARD ENGEL IN CAIRO REPORTS THE
MOVE IS PART OF EFFORTS BY ARAB NATIONS TO RE-INTRODUCE LIBYA TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF ISOLATION AND 
SANCTIONS.

TEXT:  THE NATIONAL CARRIERS OF EGYPT, TUNISIA, AND JORDAN SAY 
THEY WILL SOON RESUME FLIGHTS TO LIBYA.  

UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS WHICH PROHIBITED AIR TRAVEL TO LIBYA 
WERE SUSPENDED MONDAY AFTER LIBYA TURNED OVER TWO MEN SUSPECTED 
OF DESTROYING AN AMERICAN PASSENGER JET IN 1988.  
TWO-HUNDRED-SEVENTY PEOPLE, MOSTLY AMERICANS, WERE KILLED WHEN A 
SUIT-CASE BOMB DESTROYED THE PLANE.

THE DECISION TO RESUME AIR SERVICE COMES AS ARAB NATIONS AND 
LIBYA'S ALLIES TAKE STEPS TO WELCOME LIBYA BACK INTO THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. 

ON WEDNESDAY, SYRIA ASKED THE EUROPEAN UNION TO INVITE LIBYA TO  
A MEETING OF EUROPEAN UNION AND MEDITERRANEAN NATIONS SCHEDULED 
FOR NEXT WEEK.  

ON TUESDAY, ITALY'S FOREIGN MINISTER FLEW TO THE LIBYAN CAPITAL, 
TRIPOLI.  ITALIAN OFFICIALS DESCRIBED THE VISIT AS LIBYA'S FIRST 
STEP BACK INTO THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA.

ITALY IS LARGELY DEPENDENT ON LIBYAN OIL, THE FLOW OF WHICH HAS 
BEEN HAMPERED BY SANCTIONS ON SPARE PARTS FOR REFINERIES.  ARAB 
COUNTRIES SUCH AS EGYPT WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INCREASE TRADE WITH 
LIBYA.

MANY EGYPTIANS ARE ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF VISITING
AND WORKING IN LIBYA, WHICH HAS BEEN ACCESSABLE ONLY BY A LONG 
AND DANGERIOUS DRIVE THROUGH THE DESERT.

HOWEVER, RESUMING AIR TRAVEL TO THE NORTH AFRICAN NATION IS NOT 
WITHOUT OBSTACLES.  THE 12 AIRPLANES OWNED BY LIBYA'S NATIONAL 
CARRIER ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR.  

FURTHERMORE, SEVERAL COUNTRIES ARE  NOT  WILLING TO ENGAGE LIBYA.
THE UNITED STATES STILL CONSIDERS LIBYA A ROGUE STATE AND A 
SPONSOR OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.  FRANCE ALSO WANTS LIBYA TO 
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE 1989 BOMBING OF A FRENCH PASSENGER 
PLANE OVER NIGER. 170 PEOPLE DIED IN THAT TRAGEDY.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/SB

07-Apr-99 11:08 AM EDT (1508 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.