[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 LIBYA

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, Libya's decision to abandon its illegal 
weapons programs, and today's news that the verification process has 
been successfully completed, and the fact that Libya is cooperating in 
international counterterrorism efforts, are tremendously positive 
developments that make our world safer. Libya's experience demonstrates 
that countries have more to gain by acting responsibly and abiding by 
international norms than by seeking weapons of mass destruction. 
However, the establishment of diplomatic relations between our 
countries does not mean that Libya's progress on all fronts has been 
satisfactory. According to the State Department's 2005 human rights 
report, Libya's human rights record remained poor last year, with 
Libyan citizens unable to change their government and subject to severe 
restrictions of their civil liberties. As we begin developing a new 
relationship with Libya, we must continue to press Libya to improve its 
human rights record and governance problems, and to address the cases 
pending in U.S. courts with regard to its terrorist activities of the 
1980s.

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