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PARTMENT OF STAT Wsshington.D.C.20520 December 12, 1978 Mr. Randy Culman Plains, Georgia Dear Mr. Culman: This letter is to confirm, as Mr. Bishop, Director of the Office of North African Affairs, stated in his phone conversation with you on December 6, that the United States Government has no objections to Mr. Ahmed Shahati's visit to this country. We have learned that during his trip to the United States, Mr. Shahati plans to stop in scveral states, meeting with local.government officials and businessmen. Although he will be. discussing business transactions and perhaps educational and cultural exchanges, the State : Department believes his motives are.basically. political. Mr. Shahati is the President' of the Liaison Committee of the Libyan Peoples' Congress. He thus is in charge of his Government's efforts to establish contacts in the United States outside Washington. The Libyans hope to use such con- tacts to influence u.s. policy toward their. country and the Arab World. If this Office can be of further assistance to you in preparing for Mr. Shahati's call on Mr. Carter, please let us know. wa Sincerely Leonard Scensny Country Officer for Libya. A