Posted on 09/15/2004 12:46:36 PM PDT by yonif
Libya has missed its first payment under a US$35 million ( 28.53 million) compensation deal for 168 non-US victims of a 1986 Berlin disco bombing, a German lawyer said Wednesday.
Libya's ambassador in Berlin has told the German Foreign Ministry that the US$15 million ( 12.23 million) installment, scheduled for Sept. 8, was held up by banking difficulties, said Sven Leistikow, who helped negotiate the settlement.
"They said that it will be here in the next few days. I gather from that it will be here by Friday," Leistikow said.
The payment plan was set in a compensation agreement signed this month in Tripoli, Libya, between German lawyers and a foundation run by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's son Seif el-Islam.
Leistikow said he and other lawyers may have to seek "diplomatic pressure" if the delay continues.
"We hope it is no big problem," he said.
The agreement, negotiated for Libya by the Gadhafi International Association for Charitable Organizations, was hailed as opening the way for improved relations between Libya and Germany.
The foundation agreed to pay compensation for the April 5, 1986, bombing of the La Belle discotheque in then West Berlin, which was aimed against US soldiers. Two US servicemen and a Turkish woman were killed, and about 230 other people injured.
A Berlin court ruled in 2001 that the bombing was organized by the Libyan secret service and aided by the Libyan Embassy in then-communist East Berlin. It convicted four people of carrying out the bombing.
The settlement covers non-US victims, including Germans who were wounded or suffered psychological damage, and the Turkish woman's family. Lawyers are seeking separate compensation in US courts for American victims.
Payments of US$15 million ( 12.23 million) were scheduled for Sept. 8 and Dec. 1, with the final US$5 million (US$4.08 million) to be paid March 1, Leistikow said.
Libya needs a bombing
The check is in the mail...
This needs to be turned over to our Collections Department:
The United States Marine Corps.
I'm not so sure of that anymore. Yes, they probably do support terrorism, but I think That Mr. Khadaffi might be able to be reasoned with. Most assuredly, he has more reason to fear fundamentalists than he does the U.S. and I think that he knows it.
I'm shocked, just shocked!!
They send aid and comfort to Arab terrorists fighting Israel. In fact some months ago, the PA "Finance Minister" visited Libya and got some money from Qaddafi. Qaddafi's regime is a fundamentalist regime, using Islamism and Marxism through his "Green Book." In addition, the Libyan governments glorifies terrorism in its state media. Removing sanctions from Libya and letting it enter the international arena is a big mistake. Qaddafi is doing everything Arafat did to get back into business.
Again, not necessarily. Libya has been making efforts in recent years to burnish up their image. Although the jury is still out on the issue, it is still very interesting indeed.
In a few years we will find out. I would be optimistic if Qaddafi wasn't in power, and it was a new regime. But he is still in power, so that is why I think he is just fooling the world.
Khadaffy should be told "Pay or die".
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