Libya ready to sign inspection protocol: More equipment sent to US
VIENNA, March 6: Libya will sign the UN nuclear watchdog's Additional Protocol next week to show how serious it is about giving up weapons of mass destruction, but talks about Iran are proving difficult
, diplomats said on Saturday.
On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors begins meeting to discuss resolutions on Iran and Libya's previously undeclared nuclear programmes.
"Libya is expected to sign the Additional Protocol at the meeting," a Western diplomat said, referring to the tough inspections procedure that allows snap UN inspections of nuclear facilities.
It was unclear when the signing would take place at the meeting, which is expected to last until Friday.
While backroom talks on Libya among the 35 nations on the IAEA board have been relatively unproblematic, discussions on an Iran resolution to be submitted to the board have been much more difficult and will continue throughout the weekend.
Originally France, Germany and Britain had promised Iran they would block any resolution in exchange for Tehran's promise last week to suspend all activities related to the enrichment of uranium.
The United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have prepared a draft resolution on Iran that stops short of reporting Tehran to the Council, but draws attention to Iran's failure to declare potentially weapons-related technology and research in an October dossier it said was full and truthful.
"They (the Europeans) have come round and see the need for a resolution on those omissions," another Western diplomat said. "We want to maintain the heat, the pressure."
The October dossier did not mention designs and parts for advanced "P2" centrifuges capable of producing bomb-grade uranium, as well as experiments in making plutonium and polonium, which can be used to spark a chain reaction in a bomb.
The diplomat said the resolution was in the process of "fine tuning". Although the board members appeared close to a text that was acceptable to most, it was too early to say the draft resolution was nearly final.
CONSENT: Tripoli promised to sign the Additional Protocol as soon as the IAEA board officially approved its intention to join the protocol. Currently fewer than 40 of the more than 180 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) signatories have approved the protocol.
When IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei visited Tripoli in late December, Libyan officials agreed to act as if the protocol was already in force by giving UN inspectors unfettered access to all its sites.
Libya has also consented to a US-British sponsored IAEA resolution that will praise Libya's decision to disarm but will notify the UN Security Council about its past violations of the NPT, diplomats said.
The report to the Council, which has the power to impose sanctions, will be purely informative and will not call for punitive measures, diplomats said.
EQUIPMENT SENT TO US: Libya on Saturday sent to the United States all the known remaining equipment associated with its nuclear weapons programme, along with its longer-range missiles and launchers, the White House said.
A contracted ship containing 500 tons of equipment left Libya early in the morning and was on its way to an undisclosed site in the United States, White House National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack said.
The shipment included all of Libya's known centrifuge parts and all equipment from its former uranium conversion facility. The White House said the ship was also carrying all of Libya's longer-range missiles, including five Scuds, and all associated equipment, including launchers.
"It's coming to the US. We're not saying where or when for security reasons," Mr McCormack told reporters after President George Bush met the president of Mexico at his Texas ranch.
He said the United States would begin discussions with Libyan officials on Sunday on retraining their weapons scientists.
Libya announced in December it would abandon any efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and has allowed US inspectors to search its weapons sites and to remove sensitive equipment.
In recognition of its efforts, the Bush administration announced last month it would allow US oil firms to begin negotiating to return. It also ended a restriction on Americans from using their US passports to visit the country.
In addition, the administration decided to allow Libya to establish a diplomatic presence in Washington following its decision to base several US diplomats in Tripoli.-Reuters
