TRIPOLI — Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan has said country wants to strengthen ties with the United States, the Libya Herald said on Tuesday, quoting a government website, after Zidan's meeting with US Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael G. Vickers. It said Vikers, who was accompanied by new US Chargé d'Affaires William Roebuck in Libya, held talks with Zidan on Monday on a brief visit to Libya. Roebuck took up his post last Friday. “In their talks, Zidan said that Libya wanted to strengthen ties with the US, according to the government's website,” the Libya Herald said in a story published on Tuesday. The Herald said Zidan “paid tribute to slain US Ambassador Chris Stevens and to the help provided by the United States during the revolution, saying that Libya now looked forward to cooperating with the Americans in the military field, notably modernizing its security forces”. He added that the country was also counting on American help in other areas, mentioning economic, trade and technical education as well as support for civil society training and help building up and consolidating democracy. He added that Libya looked to Washington to support peace in the Middle East, the Libya Herald said. Foreign Affairs Minister-designate and Minister of International Cooperation Mohamed Abdulaziz said Libya was looking for American help in tracking down money looted by the Qaddafi regime. It was also keen on acquiring American border protection technology. — SG
