United States Ambassador to Libya
Encyclopedia
The United States Ambassador to Libya is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state
of Libya
.
Until its independence in 1951, Libya had been a colony of Italy
(1912–1947) and then under British and French occupation until 1951. In 1949 The UN General Assembly
had passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent before January 1, 1952 (Resolution 289). On December 24, 1951, Libya declared its independence under King Idris.
The United States recognized
the Kingdom of Libya
on December 24, 1951, in a congratulatory message sent by President Harry Truman to King Idris I. Diplomatic relations were established on the same day and the U.S. Consulate-General was elevated to a legation
with Andrew Lynch designated as Charge d'Affaires
ad interim. The first official envoy
to Libya was Henry S. Villard, who presented his credentials
on March 6, 1952.
The U.S. Embassy in Libya is located in Tripoli
.
On December 2, 1979, a mob attacked and burned the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli. On December 29, the U.S. Department of State
designated Libya as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Chargé d’Affaires was recalled on February 8, 1980 and the embassy was closed May 2, 1980. However, diplomatic relations were not formally severed. Diplomatic relations were not resumed until 2006.
The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli was closed and all diplomatic personnel were evacuated on February 25, 2011, due to the Libyan civil war
. The embassy of Hungary in Tripoli acted as the protecting power
for U.S. interests from the closure of the embassy until its reopening on September 22, 2011.
On July 15, 2011, U.S. Secretary of State
Clinton
announced that the U.S. Government recognizes
the Libyan rebel National Transitional Council
as the “legitimate governing authority” of Libya—which de facto
withdraws recognition from the Gaddafi government.
Note: U.S. Chargé d’Affaires William Eagleton was recalled February 8, 1980, and the U.S. Embassy at Tripoli closed May 2, 1980. However, diplomatic relations were not formally severed.
Note: The United States established an Interests Section at the Belgian Embassy in Tripoli, February 8, 2004. It became the U.S. Liaison Office on June 28, with Gregory L. Berry as the Principal Officer. On May 31, 2006, the U.S. resumed full diplomatic relations with Libya, and the Interests Section in Tripoli became an embassy, with Gregory L. Berry as Charge d'Affaires ad interim.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
Until its independence in 1951, Libya had been a colony of Italy
Italian Libya
Italian Libya was a unified colony of Italian North Africa established in 1934 in what represents present-day Libya...
(1912–1947) and then under British and French occupation until 1951. In 1949 The UN General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
had passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent before January 1, 1952 (Resolution 289). On December 24, 1951, Libya declared its independence under King Idris.
The United States recognized
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
the Kingdom of Libya
Kingdom of Libya
The Kingdom of Libya, originally called the United Libyan Kingdom came into existence upon independence on 24 December 1951 and lasted until a coup d'état led by Muammar Gaddafi on 1 September 1969 overthrew King Idris of Libya and established the Libyan Arab Republic.- Constitution :Under the...
on December 24, 1951, in a congratulatory message sent by President Harry Truman to King Idris I. Diplomatic relations were established on the same day and the U.S. Consulate-General was elevated to a legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
with Andrew Lynch designated as Charge d'Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
ad interim. The first official envoy
Envoy (title)
In diplomacy, an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary is, under the terms of the Congress of Vienna of 1815, a diplomat of the second class, ranking between an Ambassador and a Minister Resident....
to Libya was Henry S. Villard, who presented his credentials
Letter of Credence
A letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
on March 6, 1952.
The U.S. Embassy in Libya is located in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
.
On December 2, 1979, a mob attacked and burned the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli. On December 29, the U.S. Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
designated Libya as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Chargé d’Affaires was recalled on February 8, 1980 and the embassy was closed May 2, 1980. However, diplomatic relations were not formally severed. Diplomatic relations were not resumed until 2006.
The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli was closed and all diplomatic personnel were evacuated on February 25, 2011, due to the Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. The embassy of Hungary in Tripoli acted as the protecting power
Protecting power
A protecting power is a state which somehow protects another state, and/or represents the interests of the protected state's citizens in a third state....
for U.S. interests from the closure of the embassy until its reopening on September 22, 2011.
On July 15, 2011, U.S. Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
announced that the U.S. Government recognizes
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
the Libyan rebel National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
as the “legitimate governing authority” of Libya—which de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
withdraws recognition from the Gaddafi government.
Ambassadors and chiefs of mission
- Andrew Green Lynch – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
- Appointed: December 24, 1951
- Presented credentials: —
- Terminated mission: Superseded by Ambassador Villard, March 6, 1952
- Henry S. Villard – Career FSO
- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 7, 1952
- Presented credentials: March 6, 1952
- Terminated mission: Left post June 24, 1954
- Note: John Newton Gatch was serving as Chargé d’Affaires a.i. when the U.S. legation in Libya was raised to Embassy status on September 25, 1954.
- John L. Tappin – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 25, 1954
- Presented credentials: November 16, 1954
- Terminated mission: Superseded by Ambassador Jones March 17, 1958
- John Wesley Jones – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 5, 1958
- Presented credentials: March 17, 1958
- Terminated mission: Left Libya December 20, 1962
- Edwin Allan Lightner – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 3, 1963
- Presented credentials: May 27, 1963
- Terminated mission: Left post June 30, 1965
- David D. NewsomDavid D. NewsomDavid Dunlop Newsom was the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1969 until 1974. Also, he was the United States Ambassador to the Philippines from 1977 to 1978....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 22, 1965
- Presented credentials: October 16, 1965
- Terminated mission: Left post June 21, 1969
- Joseph Palmer, III – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 8, 1969
- Presented credentials: October 9, 1969
- Terminated mission: Left post November 7, 1972
- No ambassador was appointed following Palmer. The following persons served as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim until closure of the embassy in 1980:
- Harold G. Josif – November 1972–December 1973
- Robert A. Stein – December 1973–December 1974
- Robert Carle – January 1975–August 1978
- William L. EagletonWilliam L. EagletonWilliam Lester Eagleton, Jr. was a United States Foreign Service Officer and diplomat.-Early life:Born in Peoria, Illinois, Eagleton served in the United States Navy from 1944–46, and graduated from Yale University in 1948. He joined the U.S...
– August 1978–February 1980
Note: U.S. Chargé d’Affaires William Eagleton was recalled February 8, 1980, and the U.S. Embassy at Tripoli closed May 2, 1980. However, diplomatic relations were not formally severed.
Note: The United States established an Interests Section at the Belgian Embassy in Tripoli, February 8, 2004. It became the U.S. Liaison Office on June 28, with Gregory L. Berry as the Principal Officer. On May 31, 2006, the U.S. resumed full diplomatic relations with Libya, and the Interests Section in Tripoli became an embassy, with Gregory L. Berry as Charge d'Affaires ad interim.
- Gregory L. Berry – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires ad interim
- Appointed: May 31, 2006
- Presented credentials: –
- Terminated mission: October 10, 2006
- Charles O. Cecil – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires ad interim
- Appointed: November 15, 2006
- Presented credentials: —
- Terminated mission: July 11, 2007
- Gene A. CretzGene CretzGene A. Cretz is a career diplomat, who was nominated in July 2007 by President Bush to be the first U.S. Ambassador to Libya since 1972. His nomination was confirmed by the US Senate on November 21, 2008. He was sworn-in as U.S. Ambassador to Libya by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 17, 2008
- Presented credentials: January 11, 2009
- Terminated mission: Incumbent
See also
- Libya – United States relations
- Foreign relations of LibyaForeign relations of LibyaThe foreign relations of Libya under Gaddafi underwent much fluctuation and change. They were marked by severe tension with the West and by Gaddafi's activist policies in the Middle East and Africa, including his financial and military support for...
- Ambassadors of the United States