Blair says Libya to surrender WMD + file

(20 Dec 2003) POOL Durham, UK - Dec 19, 2003 1. British Prime Minister Tony Blair walks out followed by SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blair, British Prime Minister: “This evening Colonel Gadhafi has confirmed that Libya has in the past sort to develop weapons of mass destruction capabilities, as well as longer range missiles. Libya came to us in March, following successful negotiations on Lockerbie, to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issues in a similarly cooperative manner. Nine months of work have followed, with experts from America and Britain during which the Libyans discussed their programmes with us. As a result, Libya has now declared its intention to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction completely and to limit the range of Libyan missiles to no greater than 300 km (186 miles), in accordance with the parametres set by the missile technology control regime.“ APTN Lockerbie, Scotland - 1988 2. Various of aftermath of crash of Pan Am 103 onto Lockerbie POOL Durham, UK - Dec 19, 2003 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blair, British Prime Minister: “This decision by Colonel Gadhafi is an historic one and a courageous one and I applaud it. It will make the region and the world more secure. It shows that the problems of proliferation can, with good will, be tackled through discussion and engagement to be followed up by the responsible international agencies. It demonstrates, too, that countries can abandon programmes voluntarily and peacefully.“ APTN Libya 1986 4. Various of dead bodies following US bombing of Libya 5. Various of injured child following US bombing of Libya 6. Various of damage following US bombing of Libya POOL Durham, UK - Dec 19, 2003 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tony Blair, British Prime Minister: “Libya’s actions entitle it to rejoin the international community. I have spoken to Colonel Gadhafi to say that, as the process of disarmament goes forward I look forward to developing a productive relationship with him and with Libya.“ Libyan TV Tripoli, Libya - 26 Sep 2003 8. Various of Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi meeting Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri STORYLINE: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi confirmed that his country sought to develop weapons of mass destruction but plans to dismantle all such programmes immediately, Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Friday. Blair said Britain and the United States had been engaged in talks with Libya for nine months. “Libya came to us in March following successful negotiations on Lockerbie to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issue in a similarly cooperative manner,“ Blair said in the northern English city of Durham. Blair said Gadhafi had promised that the process would be “transparent and verifiable“ and will negotiate a new agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear agency. The U.N. Security Council ended its sanctions against Libya on September 12 after Gadhafi’s government took responsibility for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am passenger jet over Lockerbie, Scotland, and agreed to pay families of the 270 victims 2.7 (B) billion dollars. The council’s decision was largely symbolic, since the United Nations had temporarily suspended its embargo in April 1999. But the United States has kept its own 17-year embargo in place. The U.S. intelligence community, in unclassified publications, said Libya has developed its nuclear infrastructure but stopped short of saying Libya is certainly trying to develop a nuclear weapon. Relations between the US and Libya hit a low point in the late 1980s. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: