The United States should hold off on normalizing relations with Libya until it fulfills its financial commitments to American families of victims of Libyan terrorism, a U.S. lawmaker said. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, cited terrorist acts connected to Libya in a statement Monday. “In 1988, Libyan terrorists killed 270 people in the Pan Am Flight 103 Lockerbie bombing. The Libyan government acknowledged its role in the Lockerbie bombing in 2003 and committed to a settlement to each victim’s family,” Lautenberg wrote. “To date, Libya has not fulfilled its commitment.
“In 1986, Libyan terrorists bombed the LaBelle discotheque in Berlin that killed two American servicemen and injured 90 other service members. In 2006, Libya entered into a settlement agreement with these victims and notified the State Department of their intentions. To date, Libya has also not fulfilled its commitment.”
Until these commitments are fulfilled, the U.S. should not normalize relations, he wrote. Lautenberg’s statement comes as the Bush administration pursues funding for a new $115 million embassy in Tripoli and $1.15 million in economic and military assistance to the nation.
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