FRUTTUOSI COLLOQUI IN TERRA LIBICA
Grandi i progressi compiuti dalla delegazione di parlamentari UK, volati in Libia lo scorso week end per ‘trattare’ il risarcimento alle vittime dell’IRA
In una dichiarazione congiunta firmata da Jeffrey Donaldson e Nigel Dodds (entrambi DUP), quali membri della delegazione che si è recata in Libia per trattare il risarcimente alle vittime dell’IRA, si afferma che serie di incontri tenuti con Abdulati-Obidi (Segretario per gli Affari europei e figura designata da Gheddafi per affrontare l’argomento), Ali Shamekh, Segretario del General People’s Congress (equivalente al capo del Stato] ed alcuni altri, ha rivelato la volontà di sviluppare una cooperazione tra Regno Unito e Libia.
La proposta della delegazione UK verte su un programma umanitario per la pace e la riconciliazione a beneficio di tutti gli interessati nel Regno Unito, in particolare in Irlanda del Nord, e comprende: sostanziali investimenti negli affari e nelle infrastrutture; lo sviluppo di progetti comunitari, e il permettere a coloro che hanno sofferto in passato di poter chiudere quel ‘libro’, anche grazie all’estinzione dei debiti delle Libia nei loro confronti.
“Le autorità libiche sono pronte a prendere in considerazione ulteriori dettagli delle proposte, che saranno loro inviati questa settimana. Resteremo in contatto con loro. Abbiamo fatto molta strada finora, ma questo rimane un ‘lavoro in corso’ e non ci aspettiamo un risultato immediato”, riporta la dichiarazione.
Oggi si terrà un incontro al Foreign Office, al quale per la prima volta parteciperanno i rappresentanti delle vittime dell’IRA, segnando un passo fondamentale come riconosciuto anche da Willie Frazer, a capo del FAIR (Families Acting for Innocent Relatives).
Vodpod videos no longer available.
‘Progress made in Libya talks’ (NewsLetter)
Ulster politicians have told of their “constructive and positive” first engagement with Libyan authorities.
Speaking after returning from Libya as part of a Parliamentary delegation, DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds said their meetings “constitute a major milestone in our campaign on behalf of all those who have suffered because of Libyan involvement in helping IRA terrorism”.
In a joint statement they said their series of weekend meetings with Abdulati al-Obidi, Secretary for European Affairs and the man appointed by Colonel Gadaffi to deal with this matter, and Ali Shamekh, Secretary of the General People’s Congress (equivalent to the Head of State], among others, they saw a “desire to develop cooperation between the UK and Libya in respect to the purpose of our trip”.
During the trip the MPs said they presented a proposal that Libya participate in a humanitarian programme for peace and reconciliation for the benefit of all affected in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland, including: substantial business and infrastructure investment; wide-ranging community development projects; and bringing closure for those who have suffered in the past, including resolution of existing claims by UK citizens involving Libya.
Their statement added: “The Libyan authorities are ready to consider further details of the proposals, which we will be sending to them this week. We anticipate further contact with them after that. We have come a long way so far but this remains a work in progress and we do not expect an immediate result.”
On Tuesday, representatives of IRA victims will meet at the Foreign Office in London in what has been described as a “symbolic step forward” in the negotiations over Libyan compensation.
The meeting at the Foreign Office will be the first time that victims have been directly involved.
Willie Frazer of victims’ group FAIR said: “This certainly is a symbolic step forward for the victims – we will hopefully learn of the progress or otherwise of the recent visit to Tripoli by our politicians.
“I am not sure myself what will be happening at the Foreign Office, but I do know that there may be a link-up of some kind with the Libyan ambassador.”
The Five Demands 