Libyan foreign minister makes milestone visit
Libya’s foreign minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Shalgam is in London on a landmark visit for talks with British counterpart Jack Straw and prime minister Tony Blair.
The Foreign Office said ministers would discuss ways to improve political, commercial and cultural ties, and Libya’s passage out of the international wilderness.
The meeting carries historic proportions as it signals as a continuing thaw in relations between London and Tripoli.
Mr Shalgam’s trip has been described as a “milestone” visit; the first by a Libyan foreign minister since 1969.
It is the first official high-level ministerial meeting between the two governments since Britain restored diplomatic relations five years ago.
The visit comes after Libya announced it will abandon plans to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Mr Shalgam was guest of honour at a diplomatic dinner in London last night.
In August last year, Libya handed out £1.45 billion in compensation to families of the Lockerbie bombing.
