press releases 2008

United States and Libya Sign Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement

January 3, 2008

The Government of the United States of America and the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya today signed a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky signed on behalf of the United States, and Ahmed S. Fituri, Secretary of Americas Affairs at the General People’s Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation, signed on behalf of Libya. The U.S.-Libya Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement is the first official bilateral agreement signed between the two countries since re-establishment of relations in 2004.

The new Agreement provides a mechanism through which the United States and Libya can broaden cooperation in all scientific and technology fields, and move forward in areas of on-going collaboration such as public health, water resources, and space and upper atmospheric science. It is designed to support government-to-government exchanges, scientific partnerships between private, academic, and non-governmental entities, and the establishment of science-based industries and promotion of jobs. The Agreement establishes a framework to facilitate exchange of scientific results and provide protection for intellectual property rights, and will also help establish a regional dialogue on important science issues, such as the protection of the environment and the management of shared resources.

The Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement is an important step in recognizing Libya’s historic renunciation of weapons of mass destruction and positive re-engagement with the international community. It is also a component of U.S. efforts to promote peace and stability in the Maghreb region of Africa and broadening U.S.-Libya bilateral relations.