Tripoli, 8 January 2013:
US Undersecretary of Defence for Intelligence, Michael G. Vickers, held talks in Tripoli yesterday evening, Monday, with Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. Vickers, on a brief visit to Libya, was accompanied by the new US Chargé d’Affaires William Roebuck.
In their talks, Zeidan said that Libya wanted to strengthen ties with the US, according to the government’s website. He paid tribute to slain US Ambassador Chris Stevens and to the help provided by the United States during the revolution, saying that Libya now looked forward to cooperating with the Americans in the military field, notably modernising its security forces.
He added that the country was also counting on American help in other areas. He mentioned economic, trade and technical education as well as support for civil society training and help building up and consolidating democracy.
He added that Libya looked to Washington to support peace in the Middle East.
Foreign Affairs Minister-designate and Minister of International Cooperation Mohamed Abdulaziz said that Libya was looking for American help in tracking down money looted by the Qaddafi regime. It was also keen to acquire American border protection technology.
Roebuck took up his post last Friday. [/restrict]
