The United States is backing Libya's request for a modification to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
"The United States is very supportive of Libya's request for a technical change to the Chemical Weapons Convention to allow for conversion of the chemical weapons production facility at Rabta," the U.S. State Department said in a statement Wednesday.
Libya wants to use some of the equipment and buildings from this facility to make low-cost pharmaceuticals to treat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The convention would now require Libya to raze these buildings and destroy all equipment.
Libya wants a technical change that would allow the facility to be converted for peaceful uses. Its proposal was supported by 26 states, including the United States.
Earlier this year, Libya stunned the world and announced it was renouncing its program to make weapons of mass destruction. Since then, it has begun a slow process of rapprochement with the international community.
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