Daniel Kawczynski is Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Libya.
2009 is a significant year for Libya. September 1st marks the 40th anniversary of Muammar al-Gaddafi’s bloodless coup d’etat which removed King Idris I from power. The impact of the reforms that Gaddafi subsequently initiated – the introduction of state socialism and the widespread nationalism of many facets of the Libyan economy – can still be keenly felt, for good or for worse, today.
Yet 2009 is an equally significant year for British relations with Libya. April 19 marked the 25th anniversary of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher in London. In spite of the quarter of a century that has elapsed since this appalling crime was committed, her family are regrettably still no closer to securing justice for Yvonne and the peace that they themselves deserve.
This continuing impasse constitutes an open sore upon Anglo-Libyan relations and justifiably so. The Metropolitan Police have made four visits to Tripoli over a number of years, and have conducted interviews with a suspect. And yet, whilst the Met suspects that the Libyan authorities are complicit in concealing the killer’s identity, Tripoli itself appears to be stalling. In my recent discussions with Mr. Jelban, the Libyan ambassador, I was informed that Libya was continuing to pursue the matter, and that he himself was confident of achieving a resolution. When will we see progress and, more importantly, justice?
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