VARIOUS: FOREIGN MINISTER VILLEPIN SAYS FRANCE WILL VOTE FOR LIFTING OF U.N SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA, FOLLOWING AGREEMENT OF COMPENSATION ON BOMBING OF UTA AIRLINE IN 1989

Record ID: 328656

  • Title: VARIOUS: FOREIGN MINISTER VILLEPIN SAYS FRANCE WILL VOTE FOR LIFTING OF U.N SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA, FOLLOWING AGREEMENT OF COMPENSATION ON BOMBING OF UTA AIRLINE IN 1989
  • Date: 11th September 2003
  • Summary: (W6) PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 11, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FAMILIES ASSOCIATIONS ARRIVING IN CONFERENCE ROOM 0.12 2. WIDE OF JOURNALISTS/ CAMERA CREWS 0.15 3. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN, SAYING: "From now on, since the families came to an agreement, France naturally has no more opposition to the U.N. Security Council voting for the lifting of sanctions against Libya as quickly as possible in New York. We hope to open a new page in the relations between France and Libya." 0.39 4. SMV (SOUNDBITE) (French) VALERY DENOIX DE SAINT MARC (LAWYER REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES), SAYING: "The families of the UTA DC10 and the Ghaddafi foundation wish mutually to come to a definite settlement one month after the signature of this agreement. This settlement will lead to a complete reconciliation and to the re-establishment, without reserve, of friendship ties between the two countries." 1.09 5. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCIS SZPINER REPRESENTING SOS ATTENTAT (SOS ATTEMPT), SAYING: "An agreement has just been signed, it must re-establish the right of the families of the victims and under these conditions, under the idea of normalisation between the two country, SOS Attentat does not see any inconvenience, on an international level, to turn the page and lift the sanctions against Libya." 1.36 6. VARIOUS OF DE VILLEPIN AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FAMILIES ASSOCIATIONS LEAVING CONFERENCE ROOM 1.49 (W6) TENERE DESERT, NIGER (SEPTEMBER 22, 1989) (FROM REUTERS LIBRARY) (ANTENNE DEUX - NO ACCESS FRANCE) (QUALITY AS INCOMING) 7. VARIOUS OF CRASH SITE OF UTA AIRLINE BOMBING/ DEBRIS AND BODIES IN SAND (5 SHOTS) 2.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE AND TENERE DESERT, NIGER
  • City:
  • Country: Niger France
  • Reuters ID: LVA35ND09DTF7EX2BDQR0PY09S8K
  • Story Text: French Foreign Minister says France is now able
    to vote for the lifting of U.N.sanctions against Libya, after
    compensation agreement on UTA bombing.



    Libya and the families of the 170 victims of the
    1989 UTA airliner bombing have signed a compensation deal,
    clearing the way for a U.N. vote to lift sanctions against
    the North African state.

    French Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin,
    addressed the media on Thursday (September 11) in the
    presence of representatives of the families associations
    and said he was in favour of a resolution lifting
    international sanctions against Libya.

    "France naturally has no more opposition to the U.N.

    Security Council voting for the lifting of sanctions
    against Libya as quickly as possible in New York. We hope
    to open a new page in the relations between France and
    Libya," he said.

    France has repeatedly threatened to delay the lifting
    of U.N. sanctions imposed on Libya for the 1988 bombing of
    a Pan Am airline over Lockerbie, Scotland, if Libya failed
    to satisfy the UTA families demands.

    France won extra time to sweeten the deal after Paris
    threatened on Tuesday (September 9) to veto a U.N. vote to
    end completely the U.N. sanctions against Lybia.

    As a result, on Tuesday, the Security Council postponed
    a vote to lift sanctions for three more days.

    The sanctions, including an air and arms embargo and a
    ban on some oil equipment and financial assets, were
    imposed in 1992 and 1994 to pressure Libya to cooperate in
    the probe into the Pan Am attack.

    A vote would clear the way for the families of the 270
    Lockerbie victims to begin receiving compensation from
    Libya, which could eventually reach 10 million U.S. dollars
    for each family.

    Representatives of the families of the victims stressed
    that it was time to turn the page and re-establish the
    relationships between France and Libya.

    "An agreement has just been signed, it must re-establish
    the right of the families of the victims and under these
    conditions, under the idea of normalisation between the
    two country, SOS Attentat does not see any inconvenience,
    on an international level, to turn the page and lift the
    sanctions against Libya," said Francis Szpiner, representing
    SOS Attentat, the group that helps families with compensation claims.

    The lawyer representing the families, Valery Denoix De
    Saint Marc, said, "This settlement will lead to a complete
    reconciliation and to the re-establishment, without
    reserve, of friendship ties between the two countries."
    Libya is also eager for the vote which will help end
    its pariah status in much of the Western world, though the
    formal lifting of the sanctions would be symbolic as they
    were suspended in 1999 after Tripoli turned over two
    suspected for trial over the Lockerbie bombing.

    Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi said earlier this month
    that Libya had opened a new page with the West and
    compensation payouts were not a big problem for the
    oil-rich country.

    sb/jrc

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