| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Mr. Dalyell: My hon. Friend has been extremely patient with me in answering questions but having listened to all this, forgive me if I say in an exasperated way--on behalf, I think, of the relatives and certainly of sections of British industry and exporters and of quite a number of other people--where on earth do the Government see this ending? This is a situation without an end in sight. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Are we to go on and on and on with such relations with one of the states of north Africa that is not overcome by the Islamic problems that afflict Algeria? Is there any hope of getting them on to a correct basis? It is all so pessimistic. I really am dismayed.
Mr. Lloyd:
I must say clearly and unambiguously to my hon. Friend that the mass murder of British citizens and many others could never allow us to make commercial considerations our primary national self-interest. Our national interest must be to pursue the matter until we draw legitimate conclusions about the guilt or otherwise of those accused. We owe that to those who died, and to their relatives.
My hon. Friend's plea on behalf of those relatives is creditable, because I readily understand their frustration. The problem can be resolved by the international community exerting pressure on Libya, and when the Libyan Government accept the need to comply with the Security Council resolutions. I urge Colonel Gaddafi and those in the Libyan regime who want to establish a normal relationship with the rest of the world to ensure that they comply. That would cut through all the speculation. I accept that that will not take away the pain and the grief, but it will allow us to move on to the trial that should take place to establish guilt or innocence.
Although we can never draw a line under the matter, at least we can put an end to the frustrating confusion that I share not only with my hon. Friend but with the relatives who are here today, who have had to bear that burden for such a long time.
Question put and agreed to.
7 Nov 1997 : Column 557Adjourned accordingly at five minutes to Three o'clock.
| Index | Home Page |