122. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Libya1
13208. Subject: Talking Points for Proposed Meeting With Col. Qadhafi.
1. (S) Entire text.
[Page 293]2. In addition to the Presidential message (septel)2 Charge Eagleton should use the following talking points in the proposed meeting with Col. Qadhafi:
—Elaborating on the President’s point about security for the Mission, we believe it is necessary for a specific security unit to be designated for the Embassy and its personnel and for the Embassy to have communications access to that unit on a 24-hour a day basis. This is the arrangement which the Libyan People’s Bureau has in Washington.
—In terms of the high level contact the President referred to, while it is important for the Charge to see Col. Qadhafi himself from time to time, what is essential is that some form of ongoing liaison with the Colonel’s immediate staff be established, i.e., not simply with Shahati or Turayki.
—Hopefully such meetings can lay a foundation for the effective discussion with appropriate Libyan officials of all the issues now outstanding between us.
—As confirmation of Libyan interest in the security and well-being of our Embassy, we would like to see a tangible expression of cooperation. Specifically, the Embassy has had an outstanding property claim with the Libyan Government for several years. The Colonel’s assistance in obtaining a satisfactory resolution of that claim would be a firm indication of the Libyan Government’s commitment to a sound and equitable relationship. Settlement of this claim could be used in form of suitable property which could be used to construct a new building for the Embassy in Tripoli.
—We remain concerned about the status of Embassy national employee Bashir Dultz. His arrest—at a moment when we have been reexamining the whole issue of whether our Embassy personnel can operate under adequate security—has been troublesome. We would hope and expect a prompt and satisfactory resolution of this problem.
3. Col. Qadhafi’s response to the President’s message and to the points raised in the above talkers will help determine the ongoing nature of our relationship with Libya. A negative response will, of course, require us to review again the full range of options open to us in deciding upon the level and character of that relationship.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Middle East, Subject File, Box 61, Libya: 1–8/80. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Roy; cleared by Coon, Draper, Sick, and Seitz and in FBO, IO/UNP, and S/P; approved by Newsom. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800029–0704)↩
- See Document 123.↩