Japan decides to lift sanctions on Libya

Japan Policy & Politics, May 1, 2000

TOKYO, April 26 Kyodo

Japan announced Wednesday it will lift all sanctions it imposed against Libya in line with 1992 and 1993 U.N. Security Council resolutions following the 1998 Pan Am jetliner bombing.

''We will terminate...the measures in light of the recent situations surrounding Libya,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki told a news conference in announcing the decision.

The decision formalizes Japan's earlier move to lift the sanctions provisionally. Japan took the interim measure in response to the Security Council's suspension in April 1999 of economic and air embargoes after Libya's handover of two suspects in the bombing.

The sanctions will be officially lifted in mid-May upon completion of necessary procedures at the Finance Ministry and the International Trade and Industry Ministry, a Foreign Ministry official said.

The Japanese sanctions include limiting diplomatic representations and exchanges, restricting remittances to Libya, and suspending exports and trade.

But the U.N. suspension of the embargoes prompted Japan to lift the diplomatic sanctions and permit remittances, exports and trade if applications are made.

Japan only lifted its sanctions provisionally at that time because it still needed to respond swiftly should the Security Council decide to resume measures against Libya.

The official said Japan has explained its decision to lift the sanctions completely to the United States, which is supportive of recent developments in Libya.

European nations have also started improving ties with Libya, with Britain recently restoring diplomatic relations.

Japan and Libya have already stepped up their efforts to improve ties, with Tokyo sending a permanent ambassador to its embassy in Tripoli late last year and the Libyan side preparing to dispatch an ambassador soon, the official said.

Libyan Economy and Trade Secretary Abd al-Hafiz Zilitni visited Japan in February, the first Libyan cabinet-level official to do so in 15 years.

Japan also plans to send a cabinet-level official soon to Libya, the official said.

Japan, European nations and other developed countries have shown interest in oil development projects in Libya, which produces high-quality petroleum that can be used in jet fuel.

Japan recognized Libya in 1957 and established an embassy in 1973. But relations soured after the U.N. imposed economic sanctions on Libya over the bombing of the Pan Am flight.

The explosion of a bomb aboard the plane Dec. 21, 1988, over Lockerbie, Scotland, killed 270 people, including one Japanese.

The two suspects, allegedly former Libyan agents, are to stand trial beginning May 3 under Scottish law on charges of planting an explosive devise on the plane.