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03-31-2006, 02:42 PM
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US may help destroy Libya weapons
The United States is assessing whether to help Libya destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons in an operation which could cost over $100 million (£57.5m).
Pentagon experts are writing a proposal outlining the options for helping Tripoli comply with an international treaty on banned weapons.
Libya says it possesses 23 tonnes of mustard gas and has asked for US help to destroy it.
In 2003, Tripoli agreed to destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction.
The North African nation has until April 2007 to destroy its banned weapons stockpile in order to comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty governing the possession of banned weapons.
Fact-finding mission
Officials from the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) recently completed a 10-day fact-finding visit to Libya at Tripoli's invitation during which they assessed the condition of its chemical weapons stockpile, located deep in the desert.
"In round numbers, the destruction of the Libyan chemical weapons capabilities is going to be $100m," DTRA director James Tegnelia told reporters in Washington.
What are the Libyans prepared to do themselves?
Pentagon expert James Tegnelia
Mr Tegnelia said US defence officials had to decide what, if anything, they were prepared to do to help destroy the Libyan weapons.
They also had to consider whether the $100m could be better spent in other areas, such as securing Russia's arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, which Washington fears could fall into hostile hands.
'Libya's responsibility'
Destroying the weapons would be a complex operation, but the Pentagon team had come up with two ways of carrying out the operation without moving the chemicals from their current site, he said, without giving further details.
But Mr Tegnelia said it was ultimately Tripoli's responsibility to ensure it complied with the terms of the CWC.
"What are the Libyans prepared to do themselves?" he said.
"In the end, meeting the Chemical Weapons Convention responsibilities is the Libyan government's responsibility. And in today's world, it's not like they don't have resources to be able to do that."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4863872.stm
Published: 2006/03/31 11:22:19 GMT
© BBC MMVI
US may help destroy Libya weapons
The United States is assessing whether to help Libya destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons in an operation which could cost over $100 million (£57.5m).
Pentagon experts are writing a proposal outlining the options for helping Tripoli comply with an international treaty on banned weapons.
Libya says it possesses 23 tonnes of mustard gas and has asked for US help to destroy it.
In 2003, Tripoli agreed to destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction.
The North African nation has until April 2007 to destroy its banned weapons stockpile in order to comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty governing the possession of banned weapons.
Fact-finding mission
Officials from the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) recently completed a 10-day fact-finding visit to Libya at Tripoli's invitation during which they assessed the condition of its chemical weapons stockpile, located deep in the desert.
"In round numbers, the destruction of the Libyan chemical weapons capabilities is going to be $100m," DTRA director James Tegnelia told reporters in Washington.
What are the Libyans prepared to do themselves?
Pentagon expert James Tegnelia
Mr Tegnelia said US defence officials had to decide what, if anything, they were prepared to do to help destroy the Libyan weapons.
They also had to consider whether the $100m could be better spent in other areas, such as securing Russia's arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, which Washington fears could fall into hostile hands.
'Libya's responsibility'
Destroying the weapons would be a complex operation, but the Pentagon team had come up with two ways of carrying out the operation without moving the chemicals from their current site, he said, without giving further details.
But Mr Tegnelia said it was ultimately Tripoli's responsibility to ensure it complied with the terms of the CWC.
"What are the Libyans prepared to do themselves?" he said.
"In the end, meeting the Chemical Weapons Convention responsibilities is the Libyan government's responsibility. And in today's world, it's not like they don't have resources to be able to do that."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4863872.stm
Published: 2006/03/31 11:22:19 GMT
© BBC MMVI