Brüderle wants Libya's assets for relief aid
Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle wants to confiscate the financial assets of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi frozen in Germany to fund humanitarian relief.
According to a report in news magazine Der Spiegel, the minister suggested in an internal memo that the Libyan dictator's frozen assets in Germany and other European countries should be transferred to the United Nations to fund a humanitarian mission in Libya.
The magazine says that Qaddafi has €6 billion frozen in Germany, which, according to Brüderle, "could pay for humanitarian deliveries to alleviate the distress of the population in the whole of Libya."
The memo rules out Germany acting unilaterally, for legal reasons, but says a European Union initiative would be possible. "It needs the cooperation of the EU community," it says.
Brüderle said there was nothing in international law preventing the EU from now confiscating Qaddafi's money.
The EU froze all of the Libyan regime's European bank accounts following its military campaign against the opposition forces. It's stated intention is to give this money to the Libyan people.
DAPD/bk
Comments
See Also
According to a report in news magazine Der Spiegel, the minister suggested in an internal memo that the Libyan dictator's frozen assets in Germany and other European countries should be transferred to the United Nations to fund a humanitarian mission in Libya.
The magazine says that Qaddafi has €6 billion frozen in Germany, which, according to Brüderle, "could pay for humanitarian deliveries to alleviate the distress of the population in the whole of Libya."
The memo rules out Germany acting unilaterally, for legal reasons, but says a European Union initiative would be possible. "It needs the cooperation of the EU community," it says.
Brüderle said there was nothing in international law preventing the EU from now confiscating Qaddafi's money.
The EU froze all of the Libyan regime's European bank accounts following its military campaign against the opposition forces. It's stated intention is to give this money to the Libyan people.
DAPD/bk
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.