Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi told Dutch diplomats he is ready to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention, the New York Times reported today.

Qadhafi’s decision came after meeting with several high-profile intermediaries, including former South African President Nelson Mandela and Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, according to the Times.  It would open Libya’s alleged extensive underground chemical weapons facilities to inspections for the first time, the Times reported.

Brazilian diplomat Jos‚ Bustani, who heads the treaty’s implementing organization, said yesterday he had received a private commitment from Libya to sign the agreement in coming weeks.

“I can confirm that this process has been cleared by Qadhafi, so it is a matter of time,” Bustani said.  “I believe the Libya development is very important, because by acceding to the convention and opening its chemical industry for inspection, that will have an impact all over the Middle East.”

Bustani said he had been working to bring Libya “into the fold” over recent years, if only to goad other Arab countries, which have said they will sign the convention only when Israel signs the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.  Sudan and Jordan have recently signed the convention, but Egypt, Syria and Lebanon have not, according to the Times.

Libya is believed to have stockpiled 100 tons of chemical warfare agents at two facilities, the Times reported.  “Libya’s chemical weapons program is considered to be its most successful effort in weapons of mass destruction,” said Joshua Sinai, a consultant and specialist on Libya (see GSN, Nov. 20).

Sinai said Libya’s signing of the convention would be “a significant and welcome development.”  The United States, however, would have to demand “complete access” to the advanced Libyan underground facilities, he added (Patrick Tyler, New York Times, Dec. 20).

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