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<p>The UK wishes to see a just settlement for all victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA
terrorism. The Foreign Secretary raised the issue of compensation most recently during
his meeting with Prime Minister Serraj in Tripoli on 4 May 2017. He emphasised again
the importance the UK attaches to this issue and encouraged the Libyan authorities
to engage with UK victims' groups and their representatives. Prime Minister Serraj
expressed sympathy with those who had suffered from the previous regime, but it was
also clear from his discussion with the Foreign Secretary that the Libyan government
continues to face numerous challenges and that progress on the issue of compensation
is likely to remain slow. We will continue to make clear to the Libyan authorities
that this issue is a priority for us.</p><p>Libyan assets in the UK were frozen under
UN Security Council Resolution 1973 at the instigation of the Libyan authorities in
2011. In order to amend the UN resolution governing the freezing of Libyan assets
in the UK, the Libyan government would need to submit a request to the UN Security
Council. The UK is not aware of any such request. There is no legal basis which would
permit releasing frozen funds to compensate victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism,
and also no legal basis upon which the UK could withhold Libyan assets once the relevant
Libyan entities are removed from the list and the assets unfrozen. Once these assets
are released they belong to the people of Libya and by law have to be returned for
their benefit.</p>
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