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Egypt says relations with Libya ‘solid’ as row eases

22nd January 2004

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An Egyptian minister who met with Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi yesterday to defuse a diplomatic row that sparked tit-for-tat travel restrictions characterised relations between the countries as "solid".

"Relations between Egypt and Libya are strong and solid and there is no way they can be harmed," Information Minister Safwat al-Sherif said in the Libyan capital, according to Egyptian state television.

Sharif was of several senior figures President Hosni Mubarak sent to Tripoli to meet with Kadhafi.

The delegation also included Mubarak's chief advisor, Osama al-Baz and Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher.

He added that the delegation handed over to Kadhafi a message from Mubarak covering "Arab, regional and international issues," and the results of meetings Mubarak held this week with several Arab leaders, but did not elaborate.

Diplomats said Libya imposed travel restrictions January 9 because of "irritation" over Egyptian press criticism of its unilateral decision last month to renounce efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Egypt retaliated with its own restrictions.

In the past week, however, both sides have eased their restrictions, and border police said yesterday traffic was about 90% of normal.

Makram Mohammed Ahmed, a confidant of Mubarak who is editor-in-chief of the Egyptian government magazine Al-Mussawar, said the delegation was likely tasked with "a de-escalation" that would help the 350 000 Egyptian workers in Libya.

During a meeting Tuesday with Egyptian intellectuals, Mubarak said, "Libya is a brother country. And even if there are differences from time to time, these do not affect the solid ties between the two countries and two peoples".

Egypt on Tuesday stopped requiring Libyans crossing the desert border at Sallum to present visas, a measure it had imposed in retaliation for similar restrictions introduced by Libya on Egyptian travelers on January 9.

Until then, Egyptians had been able to cross with only their identity papers.

The Libyans last week dropped the visa requirement but still require Egyptian travelers to produce a work contract, residence permit, or proof they are carrying $350.

In a reciprocal measure, the Egyptian authorities now require Libyans to enter with the sum of $500.

Libya imposed the restrictions after Egyptian newspapers, including those run by the government, said Libya's unilateral decision on WMD weakened Arab efforts to force Israel to abandon its undeclared nuclear weapons programme.

The newspapers then ran reports that Libya and Israel had held talks about the prospect of forging diplomatic ties, which Libya has denied.

In addition, Mubarak himself was critical.

In an interview with Egyptian radio on January 1, Mubarak expressed surprise at the Libyan decision, saying he knew "personally" that Libya did not possess WMD and suggested that Khadafi just wanted to feel important.

"The problem is that everyone wants to feel very important in the region, whether it is Libya or another" country, he added. – Sapa-AFP.
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