FM KUSA: "STEP BY STEP" APPROACH TO VISA FOR AMERICANS

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000497

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/PPD AND CA/VO/F/P

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CVIS LY
SUBJECT: FM KUSA: "STEP BY STEP" APPROACH TO VISA FOR AMERICANS


1. (SBU) During a June 21 meeting with FM Musa Kusa, Ambassador
noted that the U.S. had begun full visa operations for Libyans
in Tripoli and had already issued over 800 non-immigrant visas
to Libyans with limited wait times. By contrast, the GOL still
followed a restrictive visa policy when it came to Americans,
including an apparent ban on American tourists, lengthy delays
and high fees for American business people, and a long record of
visa denials for USG-sponsored cultural and academic visitors.
Now that the US and Libya had restored bilateral relations, the
USG expected to see greater reciprocity in visa policy.


2. (SBU) Kusa acknowledged that US visa policy was generous with
respect to most Libyans, although there had been delays in the
cases of certain Libyan officials. He said the GOL had opened
the door to American business people, investors and employees of
US oil and gas companies. These applicants often received
multiple entry visas, he noted (in contrast to the US's more
limited single-entry visas for Libyan business people). To the
extent there were delays, it was due to the small consular
section in the Libyan Embassy in Washington. When the
Ambassador pointed out that the US Embassy continued to hear
stories of extortionate fees being demanded of US business
people by Libyan middle-men, Kusa said he was aware of the
problem, which he characterized as "corruption," and was trying
to stamp it out. The Ambassador also noted there were other
obstacles, both bureaucratic and personnel, that may also be
contributing to an apparent virtual standstill in visa issuance
for Americans. He asked Kusa to look into these as well.


3. (SBU) As for American tourists, Kusa said Libya's restrictive
policy was security-related. He recounted a time two years ago
when a cruise ship with several hundred Americans onboard had
attempted to unload the passengers in the eastern Libyan town of
Darna, the locus of foreign fighters heading to Iraq. As head
of Libya's security organization at the time, he immediately
ordered the ship not to let the Americans disembark, given the
presence of so many extremists in the town. His point, he said,
was that Americans remained vulnerable to attack by extremists,
due to controversial US policies over the past several years.
He was also concerned about "adventure tourists" who wanted to
explore Libya's deserts. Sometimes these people got lost; so
far none had been kidnapped, as had occurred in neighboring
countries. The GOL, he said, was still looking for two missing
foreigners -- Italian and Japanese -- who disappeared in the
desert during a motorcycle expedition.


4. (SBU) The Ambassador asked why the GOL could not at least
treat Americans as they do Europeans and allow tourists to come
either in groups or in connection with organized tours by
authorized Libyan tour companies. Kusa dismissed this idea,
saying that Americans remained a more attractive target for
terrorists than Europeans. Under the Obama Administration, Kusa
said, he expected attitudes toward Americans to eventually
improve, especially if progress could be made in solving the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Consequently, in his view,
opening up Libya to increasing numbers of American visitors had
to be a "step by step" process.


5. (SBU) On USG-sponsored exchange visitors and on other
non-responses to requests, Kusa agreed to review the situation.
Ambassador offered to provide a list of visa denials in these
cases.


6. (SBU) Comment: We find Kusa's justification for the total
ban on American tourists to be unconvincing. A few years ago,
Libya did in fact briefly permit Americans to visit Libya,
provided they came as part of an organized tour or aboard a
cruise ship. In these cases, the GOL has advance notification
of the visit itinerary and can provide appropriate security, as
it does in the case of European and other visitors. We will
need to continue to test his assertions regarding Libya's "open
doors" to American business visitors, and to assist the GOL to
weed out corrupt middle-men by providing information on such
practices to the GOL as it becomes available. On USG-sponsored
exchange visitors, we will follow up by providing the MFA with
our long list of aborted visits and attempt to determine whether
this is a policy decision or the work of lower-level personnel
who oppose U.S. engagement with Libyans in Libya. The good news
here is continued GOL interest in U.S. visas and a commitment to
look into the problematic issues we raised regarding lack of
visa issuance. We will now press the MFA to make good on its
commitment to establish an interagency working group to discuss
these issues with us.

CRETZ