Lautenberg, Menendez, Schumer, Clinton To Block Bush Appointment To Libya
Press Release
LAUTENBERG, MENENDEZ, SCHUMER, CLINTON TO BLOCK BUSH APPOINTMENT TO LIBYA
Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced he would lead a Senate coalition, including Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), to block the confirmation of Gene Kretz to be Ambassador to Libya.
The Senators further announced that they would maintain their hold on Cretz's nomination until Libya fully compensates American victims of Libyan terrorist attacks in the 1980's.
"Libya has failed to fulfill financial commitments they made to American victims of their terrorist acts," said Sen. Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "Libya voluntarily settled these claims. To not deliver on their promise is a slap in the face to American families that have waited for years for accountability for Libya's crimes. Libya must no longer be allowed to drag its feet and the U.S. must not pursue fully normalized diplomatic relations with Libya until they fulfill their legal obligations to American families."
"A promise made must be a promise kept. Libya has not made good on its promise to the victims of Pan Am Flight 103, and it must be held responsible," said Sen. Menendez. "Sending an ambassador to Libya is sending the wrong message to the world about how the U.S. will tolerate terrorism and the murder of American citizens. As we face a continuing terrorist threat, this is a message that we cannot afford to deliver."
"Until Libya fully compensates the Pan Am families, no U.S. ambassador should set foot in Tripoli," said Sen. Schumer, who is supporting the hold on Cretz's nomination. "We're serious about improving relations, but Libya needs to show that it is too. Paying off this long overdue debt would be a start."
"Libya has been responsible for numerous murderous terrorist attacks against American citizens over the past several decades. These attacks have caused unending pain and suffering for Americans, especially the Pan Am families. We must pressure Libya and President Qaddafi to settle the remaining terrorism cases against his country before fully normalized diplomatic relations with the United States can take place. That includes blocking the confirmation of the President's nominee to be Ambassador to Libya until these cases are resolved," said Sen. Clinton
President Bush yesterday announced that he intends to nominate Cretz to be U.S. Ambassador.
Last month, Sen. Lautenberg inserted a provision into legislation to block funding for a U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya until the Libyan government honors its financial commitments to compensate America victims of Libyan terrorist attacks in the 1980s.
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. To date, Libya has not fulfilled its commitments.
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.
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