SENATOR COLLINS URGES ADMINISTRATION TO REQUIRE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS TO FAMILIES OF PAN AM FLIGHT 103

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Susan Collins has joined several of her colleagues in the U.S. Senate in sending a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  In the letter, the Senators recommend that the Libyan Government be required to fulfill its obligations to the families of the 189 Americans who were killed in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 before the U.S. Government goes any further in strengthening its ties with that country.               The families of two passengers who died in the bombing of Flight 103 live in Maine.               Following is the full text of the letter.   The Honorable Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State US Department of State Washington, DC  20520   Dear Secretary Rice:   Last week’s announcement that the United States (U.S.) was removing Libya from the U.S. Department of State’s list of designated state sponsors of terror was an important step in Libya’s quest to rejoin the family of nations.  While we understand the Administration’s interest in renewing diplomatic relations with Libya, we have serious concerns about how American victims of past acts of Libyan terrorism will be treated.  Therefore we urge that, before the United States goes any further in strengthening our ties with Libya, the Libyan Government be required to fulfill its obligations to the families of the 189 Americans who were killed in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.   Libya committed in August 2003 to compensate the families who lost loved ones in the Pan Am 103 bombing.  Under the agreement reached with the families, the last installment of compensation is to be paid to each family upon Libya’s removal from the list of state sponsors of terror.  Now that Libya has been removed, the U.S. must ensure that Libya does not renege on its commitment and compensates these families in full.    If the U.S. wants a productive, diplomatic relationship with Libya, then we must begin by emphasizing that we expect Libya to fully honor its commitment to these American families.  As the United States begins a new relationship with Libya, we hope you will take every step necessary to resolve this important issue.   ###