Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 July 1998. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Thursday, 23 July 1998 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter to the honourable Member for Linlithgow of 23rd June, if he will list the long-standing differences to which he refers between the European Union and the United States over US sanctions under the Iran Libya Sanctions Act; and what is his estimate of the time-scale for Libya complying with UN resolutions.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 23 June, if he will list the long-standing differences to which he refers between the European Union and the United States over US sanctions under the Iran Libya Sanctions Act; and what is his estimate of the time scale for Libya complying with UN resolutions. [51525] The Prime Minister: The long-standing differences between the European Union and the United States to which I referred related to secondary boycotts and legislation with extraterritorial or retroactive effect. The agreement at the EU/US Summit of 18 May has laid the basis for resolving these differences, specifically those over the Iran Libya Sanctions Act and the Helms Burton legislation on Cuba. The time scale for Libyan compliance with UN Security Council resolutions is in Libya's hands. We continue to press them to fulfil their obligations. UN sanctions will remain until they do.

Secondary information