Qathafi declared agreement over Yota; Lockerbie ended and a new page with the west
Libya-France, Politics, 9/1/2003

Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi announced yesterday that Libya reached an agreement with France on additional compensations for the families of the victims of the French Yota" plane which blew up in 1989 over al-Niger.

This will permit closure of Lockerbie issue and opening " a new page in its relations with the west." Al-Qathafi disclosed that Arab and African leaders including Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the Lebanese prime minister urged him to reach an agreement with the French over "Yota."

The agreement which was not confirmed by France will avoid Paris confrontation with London at the UN Security Council over the British draft resolution to lift sanctions from Libya after Tripoli had agreed to a fund of 2.7 billion dollars for the families of the Pan Am plane that exploded over Lockerbie. Diplomatic sources said that Wednesday was initially defined as a date for a vote at the UN Security Council on tis issue.

Al-Qathafi said in a speech he had addressed to the Libyan people on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of al-Fateh revolution said that "the problem concerning Yota plane is settled and Lockerbie issue is ended now. We are opening a new page in our relations with the west." Al-Qathafi explained that "al-Qathafi International Charity establishment has been negotiating with the families of the victims in order to reach an agreement. And an agreement was reached." Al-Qathafi did not disclose the value of the new sum.

Al-Qathafi indicated that the Yota issue was closed following compensation of the families of the victims in 1999, but the French government was exposed to pressure from the families of the victims after it was found out that families of the Pan Am plane victims will received much greater compensations.

Concerning Lockerbie, al-Qathafi said that Libya was forced to pay compensations in order to have the sanctions and its name lifted as a terrorism sponsoring state. He said "the Libyans showed great wisdom and courage as well as efficiency in running this strategic conflict." Although Libya admitted no responsibility for the explosion of the Yota plane, it agreed to pay compensations after a French court found guilty in absentia some 6 Libyans, responsible for the explosion including al-Qathafi son in law.

A " Yota " plane was blown off on September 19, 1989 in Niger. Some 170 persons were killed in the explosion including 54 French and others from Congo and other nationals N.

Previous Stories:
  New French threat postpones lifting sanctions; Libya announces negotiations with Germany   (8/29/2003)
  Negotiations in Libya, de Villepin is optimist   (8/23/2003)
  Vote for lifting sanctions imposed on Libya postponed   (8/22/2003)

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