Libya took another big step towards winning western recognition and ending longtime isolation on Wednesday when the ambassadors from the 25-nation European Union (EU) agreed that a 18-year-old arms embargo against Tripoli should be lifted.  

The move, which needs to be ratified by EU ministers next month, is the latest development of the decades-long cat-and-mouse play between Libya and the West.

Since the mid of 1980s, Libya has been subject to upgrading sanctions over its alleged terror links from the United States and the EU. The EU imposed arms embargo on Libya in 1986 following a disco bombing in Berlin. Even the United Nations moved to impose sanctions of its own in 1992 after the bombing of the Pan Am 103 flight over Lockerbie in 1988.

Libya's ties with the West, however, have improved dramatically since late 1990s when Tripoli took a decisive change to embrace the West. Last year, Tripoli agreed to accept civil responsibility and make pay-outs for the Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people.

Libya has also signed compensation accords with families of the 170 killed in 1989 when a French UTA airliner was blown up over the Sahara in Niger. Earlier this month, Tripoli agreed to pay to more than 160 victims of the Berlin nightclub bombing.

In a further move to show its cooperation, Libya announced that it would axe controversial weapons programs. During a historic visit to the EU headquarters in Brussels, Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi claimed that by renouncing weapons of mass destruction, Libya had secured more benefits for itself than it could by possessing such weapons.

Maybe he is true. Libya got its rewards step by step. The UN sanctions were suspended in 1999 when Libya surrenders two Libyan suspects in the Lockerbie bombing for trial. The sanctions ended in 2003 following Tripoli agreed to compensate the relatives of those killed in the attacks.

On Wednesday, EU ambassadors also agreed that economic sanctions, suspended since 1999, should be lifted formally. The EU is also discussing allowing Libya to join the Barcelona process, a format for dialogue between the EU and the Mediterranean countries.

Behind the scenes, analysts said that many EU member states are keen to capitalize on good relations forged with Libya. It goes without saying that the substantial oil reserves owned by Libya have great temptation to the oil-dependent European countries.

Besides that, winning cooperation from Tripoli on the illegal immigration issue also explains why some EU countries, specifically Italy, become anxious to remove the sanctions.

With its long coastline, Italy is one of the main targets for immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa on their way to Europe. It is reported that more than 9,700 illegal immigrants, many from North Africa, had arrived on its shores so far this year.

Tripoli argued that the EU's arms embargo has made it impossible for his border guards to stem the tide.

The Italian government has called for the EU to allow exports to Libya of equipment, such as binoculars and boats, to help the country tackle the problem.

"The EU's decision caps off ongoing efforts by Italy to give Libya the tools needed to assure an efficient patrolling of its land and marine borders and adequately confront the illegal immigration phenomenon and crime," Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The lifting of the sanctions, however, does not necessarily mean that Libya will be fully embraced by the West, warned some observers.

Just two days before the EU move, the US lifted commercial sanctions against Libya, including unblocking approximately US$1.3 billion in assets frozen under the Libya sanctions program. But Tripoli remains on Washington's list of state sponsors of terror, so arms exports are still banned, as is the export of so-called "dual-use" items.

Meanwhile, the US diplomatic representation in Libya remains that of a liaison office. "We certainly don't have full diplomatic representation there," said a spokesman for the US State Department.

Even the EU has its own issues of concern. EU officials said that arms exports to Libya would still be limited by an EU code of conduct barring the sale of equipment that could be used in domestic repression or regional conflicts.

The EU will also send a technical group to Libya looking into moves towards improving human rights, including the fair treatment of five Bulgarian medics who have been sentenced to death.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2004)