Relations between Libya and the US strained again

The relations between Libya and the US have again been upset by minor events. The expulsion of a US diplomat has, according to sources in Tripoli, been carried through. The declaration of the diplomat as persona non grata is a small affair and seems to have been designed to embarrass the Americans and the Libyan authorities. US representation in Libya is already under par and is struggling to make a position for itself, despite the lukewarm treatment of Libya by the Obama Administration.

The tourism sector has received a considerable boost with the easing of visa restrictions for American visitors. Regular international cruise companies are once again calling into Libya to see key historic sites.

The US also courted animosity from the Libyans during the UN Human Rights Council meeting where the US spokesman decried the poor treatment of detainees and the torture which is widely reported as basic to the system of control at the Abu Selim prison and its offshoots.

In all the information circulating in the foreign and domestic media in the last week has tended to confirm US opinion that Libya has not yet qualified as an acceptable ally and for as long as petty infringements are magnified in the US State Department this position is unlikely to change.

The foreign business community might gain some confidence from the promised start of exploration operations by the major international oil companies, but without political acceptance of the Libyan regime by Washington, real progress by the US private sector in development will be inhibited.

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

© 2010 Menas Associates

Saif al-Islam's planning Iftar celebration to recognise anniversary of al-Meghrahi's release

With the first anniversary of the release of the former Lockerbie prisoner, Abdel Basset al-Meghrahi, there would appear to be no end in sight of Western fascination with the story. Not only are UK/Scottish and US officials still debating the issue of BP's reputed involvement in the convicted bomber's release on compassionate grounds but the international media are also focused on his continued survival despite the prognosis made this time last year.

In a move clearly designed to reap domestic support rather than impress an international audience, it is rumoured that Saif al-Islam Qadhafi is planning an Iftar celebration, during this holy month of Ramadan, to recognise the anniversary of al-Meghrahi's release and his continued survival. Saif al-Islam is largely credited with negotiating the release of the Libyan convicted of bringing down Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988.

The matter refuses to leave the public arena, and members of the US Senate and Congress - particularly those from New York and New Jersey, and others who are close to the families of the American Lockerbie victims - appear to be fixated on investigating its various aspects.

So far, it would seem that little concrete damage has been done to bilateral relations between the US and Libya. However, it is unlikely that this will still be the case if the matter is not dropped from public scrutiny in the near future.

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

© 2010 Menas Associates