US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Libya on Friday on the first such visit 55 years, marking a new era in Washington's reconciliation with Tripoli. Rice described her brief visit as "historic" and a sign the United States does not have permanent foes.
"Now that is not to say that everything has by any means been settled between the United States and Libya. There is a long way to go," she told reporters travelling with her. "But I do believe that it has demonstrated that the United States doesn't have permanent enemies. It demonstrates that when countries are prepared to make strategic changes in direction the United States is prepared to respond."
"It is a beginning, it is an opening, it is not, I think, the end of the story," Rice said, according to AFP.
Rice was holding talks with Foreign Minister Abdelrahman Mohammed Shalgam before joining Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi for Iftar -- the meal marking the end of the day's Ramadan fast. "I look forward to listening to the leader's world view," she said of Kadhafi.
The White House said Rice's visit marked a "new chapter" and that cooperation could expand in areas including education and culture, commerce, science and technology, and security and human rights.
Last year, Kadhafi declared his love for "Leezza," telling Al-Jazeera television in an interview: "I support my darling black African woman. I admire and am very proud of the way she leans back and gives orders to the Arab leaders."
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
