U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday the United States looks forward to further improvement of ties with Libya after Congress passed legislation on Tripoli's compensation to U.S. victims.
"Yesterday, Congress passed important legislation that will further efforts to obtain fair compensation for American citizens in their claims against the Libyan government," Rice said in a statement.
"We hope administration efforts, working with the Congress, will help our fellow citizens close a painful chapter in their lives. The United States also looks forward to expanding its relationship with Libya and its people as we resolve contentious issues from the past," Rice said.
U.S. Congress passed a legislation on Thursday to set up a fund for Libya to compensate U.S. victims of Libyan-backed terrorism and granting Libya immunity from terrorism-related lawsuits after the compensation has been paid.
Although bilateral ties have markedly improved since Libya gave up weapons of mass destruction in 2003, Libya has yet to make the final payment to the families of 1988 Lockerbie bombing, as it has agreed to pay 10 million U.S. dollars to the families of each victim.
Moreover, Libya has not reached agreement with the United States concerning the 1986 bombing of a disco in West Berlin. Libya agreed to shoulder responsibility for the bombing and two U.S. servicemen were among those killed in the bombing.
Source: Xinhua
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