§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Libyan authorities have sought agreement for any official recently to present his credentials as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Court of St. James; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindThe Libyan authorities have not sought agreement for an ambassador since 1976. We regard the Secretary General of the People's Committee of the People's Bureau as having equivalent status to a charge d'affaires ad interim.
Mr. Adam Kuwiri assumed his functions as charge d'affaires on 12 December 1981. The Libyan authorities have not notified any replacement since they advised the British embassy in Tripoli on 20 February that he had ceased to hold that position. We have requested clarification.