[This is the headline over a Reuters report on the XE website. It reads as follows:]
The United States and Libya signed a trade agreement on Thursday underlining their switch from decades-long hostility to lucrative business ties.
US companies lagged their European rivals in entering the Libyan market after international sanctions on Tripoli were lifted in 2004. Washington is now striving to catch up.
Under the agreement, a joint council will be set up to handle issues including market access and intellectual property, and Washington will help Libya with its application to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), officials said.
'The importance of this agreement is to build trust,' Libyan Trade Minister Mohamed Hweji told Reuters.
Christopher Wilson, Assistant US Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, was in the Libyan capital to sign the agreement.
'We want to see the numbers grow in terms of both trade and investment,' he told reporters. 'We are looking forward to creating the best conditions to do that.'
US aircraft bombed oil exporter Libya in 1986, killing more than 40 people. Washington accused Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi of supporting armed militants and trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction.
Relations were restored after Gaddafi renounced banned weapons programmes and agreed to pay compensation to the families of those killed in the 1988 bombing of a US airliner over the Scottish town of Lockerbie.
In 2003, the United States exported $200,000 worth of goods to Libya and imported nothing. By 2009, exports to Libya had surged to $666 million and imports to $1.9 billion.
Diplomatic relations between Tripoli and Washington hit a set-back earlier this year when a State Department official made caustic comments about a speech in which Gaddafi had called for a 'jihad' against Switzerland.
US energy companies operating in Libya, including Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips were warned their interests could suffer as a result. The row was resolved when the State Department official apologised.
Diplomatic relations between Tripoli and Washington hit a set-back earlier this year when a State Department official made caustic comments about a speech in which Gaddafi had called for a 'jihad' against Switzerland.
ReplyDeleteUS energy companies operating in Libya, including Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips were warned their interests could suffer as a result. The row was resolved when the State Department official apologised.
I must speak up on behalf of caustic comments. Really, Gaddafi makes on oddball statement like that, someone says something, and then has to apologize because of oil companies? I highly doubt it went like that.
The impression is one of shadiness. Whatever happened to the "blood" on Megrahi's hands and those who assisted him? On up the chain to the Colonel, we've always heard? Now the bomber should have stayed in jail but his boss (??) is a new business partner?
MISSION LOCKERBIE:
ReplyDeleteEs ist heute offensichtlich: Um Abdelbaset Al Megrahi's "Miscarriage of Justic" zu "sühnen" wurde von Kenny MacAskill (Scottish Justice) Mr. Megrahi's Krankheit dazu benutzt, um für den kommenden Tag der Wahrheit, die Hände in Unschuld gewaschen zuhaben !
Um zukünftig Libyen und Mr. Megrahi nichtmehr mit PanAm 103 und Lockerbie in Verbindung zubringen, müssen nebst den 100%-igen Entlastungsbeweisen (wie gefälschtes MST-13 Timerfragment PT/35 etc.) folgende unbeantwortete "Mysteris" hinterfragt und beleuchtet werden:
1)> Welche unbekannte Regierung (Staat) und aus welchem Interesse, wurde bereits am 13.September 1996 dem "Crown Office" ein "Document under National Security" zugestellt und bis Oktober 2007 geheim gehalten?
To the memory: The Appeal Court in Edinburgh was reported on 20.2.2008, that the Scottish Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC had agreed to open the secret text about the electronic MEBO MST-13 timer in the document under "national security" which relieves Libya and its official Mr Megrahi.
But the UK Government by Advocate General Lord Davidson QC, blocked the progress and has argued that it is not in the public interest to release the secret document. He claimed: "The national security was at stake"!
Procecuting counsel Ronnie Clancy added that the secret document did not originate from the USA or one of is agencies as the CIA...
2)> The Libyan government has never accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie-Attempt and has never paid compensation to the Victim Families.
If al-Megrahi's conviction was overturned on appeal, the privat International Gaddafi Foundation for Charity Association at Geneve/Switzerland have paid US$ 2.7 billion, that it paid in compensation to the Victim Families.
Which Oil Company placed the largest part of finances for US$ 2.7 billlion compensation to the Victim Families", over those "Swiss bank for internationally Settlements (BIZ) for the order?...
3)> The publication of Mr Megrahi's appeal-documents on his internet-webpage >http://www.megrahimystory.net/< for the sake of clearing his name is a clear indice, that the "dropping" of his appeal was NOT based on his free will:
Why so? / Possible answers:
4)> Mr Megrahi was not protected to absolutely avoid a legally wrong decision by the present lawyer Tony Kelly;
5)> Mr Megrahi was possibly set under drugs which resulted in the fact, that his medical ability was out of control;
6)> Mr Megrahi was intentionable wrongfully informed about his legal possibilities ;
7)> Mr Megrahi was blackmailed by facts, which have nothing to do with the PanAm 103 attack and were clearly aimed do drop the appeal;
8)> It would have been the clear duty of the Lord Advocates at the appeal court in Edinburgh, to learn Mr Megrahi, that a dropping of the appeal-issue would not influence the 'compassionate release'!
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by Edwin and Mahnaz Bollier, MEBO Ltd., Switzerland