HOPES THAT Libya would offer to compensate the families of IRA victims killed using its weaponry from the 1980s onwards have been downplayed by the British government.
A senior Libyan politician, secretary for international co-operation Mohammed Siala, told the London Independent at the weekend that compensation had been discussed with London.
“It is a special case. We have a good understanding with the UK,” he is reported as saying, before adding, “things have not matured yet”. The British foreign office has, since 1999, repeatedly urged Libya to pay compensation for its past IRA support, but this has been ruled out repeatedly by Col Muammar Gadafy.
“Our position is that there isn’t a new angle in [Mr Siala’s] remarks, as far as we can see,” a foreign office spokesman told The Irish Times, adding Libya has “continually said that it has accounted for its past support of the IRA”.
The latest refusal by Tripoli was recorded during a meeting in February between the then- foreign office minister, Bill Rammell, and Libyan politicians and officials in Tripoli, on terrorism issues.
Meanwhile, a group pressing for compensation from Libya for victims of IRA violence has guardedly welcomed indications that the Libyan authorities are at least considering the issue.
Despite the British government’s reservations, William Frazer of victims group Fair (Families Acting for Innocent Victims) said it appeared progress was being made.
Fair and DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson are supporting dozens of relatives of people killed by the IRA in plans to take a legal compensation case against Libya, based on the fact Col Gadafy’s regime had illegally exported arms and explosives to the IRA.
They have intensified their efforts after the controversial release on compassionate grounds from a Scottish prison of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.
“We will continue to monitor the Libyan position judging when and under what circumstances to test their views [on compensation],” Mr Frazer added.
Lagan Valley MP Mr Donaldson was very guarded, querying whether the Libyans were merely “posturing” on the issue. Something more than a “hint of progress” was required from the Libyan government, he added.
Mr Frazer said it would be “scandalous” if the British government “did not move heaven and earth to ensure that Libya addresses its past”. He was, however, more positive about the possibilities of movement than Mr Donaldson.
“I welcome recent developments where Libya now recognises there is a case to answer, in terms of its previous support for terrorism,” he said.