Transcript: Libyan PM interview

Libya has announced that it is giving up weapons of mass destruction. It also agreed to sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, allowing for tougher, short-notice inspections. BBC Radio Four's Today Programme interviewed the Libyan Prime Minister, Shukri Ghanem.

The following is the full transcript:

Libya is now ready to sign protocol allowing surprise UN inspections

Q: Prime Minister of Libya, Dr Shukri Ghanem, where do you think the decisions, made by Colonel Gaddafi and Libya on weapons of mass destruction, leave your relationship with Britain and the United States? How would you characterise it now?

A: Well of course the relations between us and the United States and United Kingdom is going to improve much more than it was. Of course with the UK we had already normalised the relations some time ago but with the US there are still some tending of problems... And I think the decision is timely and the decision shows the courageous decision that we can take and at the same time it is not popular to some people. But it is a decision that we are taking and we think it is in the interest of the Libyan people - it is in the interest of the whole world community.

Q: It is being reported here that Libya took the initiative by approaching British intelligence, essentially with an offer, to begin negotiations - the negotiations which have led to this announcement - is that true?

A: Well there was negotiation - first of all it started with the conviction that we have no priorities - our priority is to improve our economy, to improve the standard of living of our people and therefore we should try, through peaceful means, to make the whole area clear from the weapons of mass destruction and we wanted to set the example and this is why of course this idea has been embraced by the powers and it came at the time where everyone would like to see the whole world without weapons of mass destruction.

Q: Are you now ready to sign the extra protocol in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which will allow inspections to occur at short notice in Libya, to assure the rest of the world that these programmes no longer are operating?

A: Yes, we are members in this world committee. We agree to the commitment that we are taking in respect to the International Atomic Energy Agency and we are willing to abide by its rules and honour our commitments - whatever those commitments mean.

Q: There is another issue which obviously is of particular interest in France and that is the question of the compensation for the victims of the bombing of the UTA plane - we have got the Lockerbie case as well, which is of particular interest here and in the United States of course. What is going to happen on that? Because we heard from a relative of one of those who was killed in that bombing earlier, saying that the Libyan authorities are still in possession of the kinds of weapons that were used in that attack and that until Libya says 'We will never do this again', straightforwardly, people will be rather suspicious.

A: Well you cannot listen to someone who says some word here or there, you will hear these words all over the place and one who has certain interest, they will say this or that. But there is international commitment, organised and it is stipulated in international agreements. There are details of how to implement this agreement and this is what we are implementing and this [is] what counts. By the end of the day it is the other International Atomic Energy Agency rules and the procedures that will decide how much that we are applying what we said and that we really mean what we say and we honour our commitments.

Q: Prime minister, when Libya said that it was turning its swords into ploughshares - a Biblical quotation - does that include support for terrorist organisations elsewhere, who are fighting against their governments which in the past Libya did support?

A: No. Some people have not understood us or try not to understand us. We have never supported terrorism. But we supported at certain times what we call freedom fighters at certain points. But of course the definition of the word terrorism, which took international conferences and so on, that created whatever the misinterpretation.

Q: Indeed we could talk about that all day - the support for the IRA, which was undoubtedly a terrorist organisation in this country.

A: Yes, but anyway, we are against terrorism - we said that - and we said it again. We are fighting and participating in fighting terrorism.

Q: Let me ask you something which is being raised here in the aftermath of your statement. It is pretty well assumed around the world that Israel is in possession of nuclear weaponry, although it does not comment on these things. Do you want to see some similar rules applied to Israel?

A: Of course. This is since a long time we were calling that the Middle East at least should be free from weapons of mass destruction and this is why Israel should be - it is fair also to give up its military weapons of mass destruction and stockpile.

Q: For many years, prime minister, Libya was seen as an enemy of the West - particularly in the United States - and many people will remember Tripoli being bombed in the mid-1980s. Are you now friends now with the West?

A: Well we have always opened our hearts to everyone, to become friends to everyone, to participate in the world community and to work for a better standard of living for our people. Of course we welcome to be friends of all the countries including, of course, the United States and the United Kingdom. And we think by the actions we are taking, we are just demonstrating how much we are interested in having a peaceful world and peaceful good relations with different countries, including the United States. And we hope that the actions we are doing will be reciprocated and appreciated.

Q: One last question, prime minister, the defence secretary here indicated yesterday that he believed that one of the principal reasons behind this negotiation and Libya's announcement, was the sight of American and British troops going into Iraq to enforce the UN wish that there should be inspections. Did that play a role in your decision?

A: Our interest in changing our priorities and concentrating on our economic affairs and economic development was far before this thing and if he is in doubt he can ask his prime minister or he can ask President Bush.