Tripoli - Libya, which has been trying
to thaw relations with Washington, has given a United States beauty
contestant citizenship and named her as honorary consul to the United
States.
The Libyan news agency, Jana, said on Tuesday Libya had named Tecca
Zendik, an American who lives in the United States, to the post at an
official ceremony in Tripoli on Sunday at which she was also granted
citizenship and a Libyan passport.
Jana quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying: "Libya was
convinced Zendik would play an effective role in the service of relations
with the United States."
Libya under Muammar Gaddafi remains on the US list of states that
sponsor terrorism and rapprochement has proved elusive despite its
improving relations with Britain and other European countries.
Zendik went to Tripoli in November as the US contestant in a beauty
pageant, Miss Net World, whose winner - British model Lucy Layton - was
chosen by votes via the Internet.
At Sunday's ceremony, Zendik pledged to work for peace, telling Libyan
officials that she and many Americans opposed wars and yearned for
friendly links with other peoples, reported Jana.
