Gadhafi's Checkbook Diplomacy

Berlin and Libya have reached a deal on compensation for victims of the 1986 La Belle disco bombing, which left three dead and 200 injured, but a confession is still not forthcoming. A commentary by Peter Philipp

photo: AP — Gadhafi will stump up the money but won't take responsibility, says Peter Philipp

The compensation agreement may be of little solace to the injured and the families of those killed in the attack on Berlin's La Belle discotheque 18 years ago, but for politicians it smoothes the way for a new chapter in bilateral relations.

That said, there are some serious questions - moral, political and economic - which simply have to be posed.

Although after a long run of secret negotiations, Libya has agreed to pay out $35 million (€28.4 million) in compensation, Tripoli has still not claimed responsibility for the attack, which the Berlin district court ruled was Libya's doing.

Is it then right to talk of remorse and change, which ought to be the pre-requisites for the North African oil nation to be allowed back into the fray.

But that's not how it works in a world in which countries are turned into war zones in the name of fighting terrorism or securing them democracy.

Financial game

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has long been aware that it's not remorse and change which are important, but a checkbook: $2.7 billion for the relatives of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing, $170 million for a French plane which exploded over West Africa, a couple of million for the ransom of German hostages in southeast Asia and Algeria.

In return, the sanctions imposed against Lybia were lifted and Gadhafi was welcomed in Brussels. Euoropean politicians meet him, including German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder who has a visit scheduled for later this year.

It's almost like an exclusive tennis club, which members have to buy into in order to then be able to benefit from the advantages of the 'better society,' advantages which far outweigh the cost of the joining fee.

Demonization is no help

The same is true of this latest case: The $35 million - payable in instalments - are a genuinely good investment: Germany will become economically active in Libya again, with a planned return to the authorization of "Hermes" guarantees, and Libyan exports to Germany will doubtless quickly exceed the current two billion dollar line.

The measly $35 million are a mere drop in the ocean in comparison.

It would, however, be wrong to completely malign Berlin's agreement, because the ongoing isolation and demonization of a country is no help to anyone. The international community has an interest in regular and normal relations, not to mention economic interests.

But what is called for is measured behaviour. Relations at any price are surely wrong, because they go hand-in-hand with the sacrifice of basic values.

What is needed is a little more honesty, such as remorse and change. And Libya has already proved its capability here in giving up its nuclear program and shipping its facilities to the United States.

Peter Philipp