Libya, U.S. sign bombing compensation deal
Washington, 15 August (IranVNC)—The United States and Libya signed a settlement agreement yesterday to compensate the American and Libyan victims of terrorist attacks, or their surviving families, making it possible for the two countries to improve diplomatic relations.
By: IranVNC
Published: Friday, August 15, 2008
18:29GMT—2:29PM/EST
LIBYA – US – BOMBINGS – COMPENSATION
Washington, 15 August (IranVNC)—The United States and Libya signed a settlement agreement yesterday to compensate the American and Libyan victims of terrorist attacks, or their surviving families, making it possible for the two countries to improve diplomatic relations.
The deal will grant compensation to the American victims of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie Scotland, which left 270 people dead, and the 1986 attack on a discotheque in Berlin that killed three people and wounded 229, said Libyan officials according to Reuters.
The deal also covers the Libyan victims of the 1986 US warplanes attack on Tripoli and Benghazi, where 40 people were killed.
The State Department made it clear that “the agreement is being pursued on a purely humanitarian basis and does not constitute an admission of fault by either party,” said Robert Wood, acting deputy spokesperson.
In 2003, Libya, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC], accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing, and, since then, US-Libya relations have been dramatically improving.
“This international agreement between the two sides ends any pending issue between Tripoli and Washington. It clears the way for normal and complete relations between Libya and the U.S.A,” said Azzam Eddine of the Libyan negotiating team, Reuters reports.
Sources: State Department website, Reuters
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