Common Market Imposes Curbs on Libya Diplomats : Pleads for Restraint on ‘All Sides’

The 12 Common Market countries today imposed diplomatic sanctions against Libya, including reductions in embassy staff levels and tighter visa requirements--but they rejected imposing economic sanctions against Tripoli and urged U.S. military restraint.

The Common Market foreign ministers, after meeting for four hours in an emergency session, also pledged to work against all governments that support terrorism.

In Washington, U.S. officials who would comment only on the basis of anonymity gave a tepid welcome to the Common Market’s moves.

“These are reasonably solid steps,” one official said.

“Obviously there has been some movement and that’s a good sign,” said another.

But the officials said the moves would not satisfy the Reagan Administration entirely.

‘Glass Half-Empty’

“I’d say this was a glass half-empty rather than half-full,” one official said.

West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher was to arrive in Washington late today and present the position taken by the 12 European Community ministers to President Reagan, a West German spokesman said.

A communique issued after European meeting, which was convened to deal with the U.S.-Libya crisis, called for “restrictions on the freedom of movement of diplomatic and consular personnel; reduction of the staff of diplomatic and consular missions, (and) stricter visa requirements and procedures” for Libyan nationals.

Although rejecting calls for economic sanctions against Libya, the foreign ministers reaffirmed a Jan. 27 ban on arms sales to countries supporting terrorism, specifying that such a ban applies to Libya.

In an obvious reference to the threat of a military confrontation in the Mediterranean, the nations said that “in order to enable the achievement of a political solution, avoiding further escalation of military tension in the region, with all the inherent dangers, the 12 underline the need for restraint on all sides.”

U.S. Flotilla on Alert

A flotilla of U.S. air and naval forces is assembled in the Mediterranean on alert for possible action against Libya, which the United States has blamed for fostering terrorism and has labeled a prime suspect in the April 5 bombing of a West Berlin discotheque frequented by U.S. troops.

As current head of the Common Market, the Dutch called the meeting in response to appeals from Spain and Italy, which have been threatened by Libya with reprisals if U.S. forces attack.

Before the start of the Common Market meeting, sources in several delegations said the Europeans would try to steer the United States away from attacking the North African nation. The sources all spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We want to do everything we can to avoid a military escalation,” an aide to Genscher said.

No Change of Policy

Meanwhile, French President Francois Mitterrand told U.S. Special Envoy Vernon Walters today that France is ready to fight terrorism but will not change its policy toward Libya.

A statement issued after Walters’ 45-meeting with Mitterrand at the Elysee Palace said Mitterrand “reaffirmed his determination and that of France to continue to fight without flagging against terrorism.”