U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday she wanted to visit Libya, saying it would be an "important step" in cementing ties with the former foe, but provided no date for a trip.

Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdel-Rahman Shalgam is set to meet Rice in Washington on January 3, and Rice told reporters she was looking forward to going to Libya herself.

"I actually look forward to the opportunity to go to Libya. I think it will be an important step," Rice told reporters.

Rice said she was looking for an "opportunity to extend our relationship further," and pointed to Tripoli's closer ties to the West in general, including new investment opportunities in Libya, a major oil producer.

"Our promise had been to significantly improve U.S.-Libyan relations and to open -- help open the door, for Libya to receive investment and engagement with the international community," Rice said.

"It's why there are new investment opportunities in Libya, it's why so many companies are talking to the Libyans, it's why a number of leaders have been to Libya and the leader has been to other countries," she added, referring to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

If Rice visits Libya before President George W. Bush leaves office in January 2009, she would be the highest-level U.S. visitor to the country in more than half a century.

Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 21 Aralık 2007, 21:03