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Italy to pay $5B to Libya for occupation Story Highlights Italy agrees to pay Libya $5 billion as compensation for 30-year occupation Compensation package includes construction projects, student grants, pensions In return Libya to crack down on illegal migrants turning up on Italian shores Italy occupied Libya from 1911 to 1943 BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) -- Italy agreed Saturday to pay Libya US$5 billion as compensation for its 30-year occupation of the country, which ended in 1943. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi signed a memorandum pledging a US$5 billion compensation package involving construction projects, student grants and pensions for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during World War II. "It is a material and emotional recognition of the mistakes that our country has done to yours during the colonial era," Berlusconi told reporters at the airport on his arrival. "This agreement opens the path to further cooperation." In return, Italy wants Libya to crack down on illegal migrants turning up on Italian shores, and Italy will fund US$500 million worth of electronic monitoring devices on the Libyan coastline. Gadhafi received Berlusconi under a big tent in Benghazi where they discussed the agreement over lunch. The Italian leader said US$200 million of the package would be for infrastructure projects over the next 25 years, including a coastal highway stretching across the country from Tunisia to Egypt. The two leaders exchanged gifts, with Berlusconi giving Gadhafi a silver inkstand, sculpted in the form of a lion's head, with two pens inside to sign the agreement. The Libyan leader gave Berlusconi a linen suit. Berlusconi's office said in a statement that the premier would also hand over to Gadhafi the Venus of Cyrene, an ancient Roman statue taken in 1913 by Italian troops from the ruins of the Greek and Roman settlement of Cyrene, on the Libyan coast. Relations between the two countries have warmed over the last few years, with Italian leaders meeting Gadhafi several times. However, it has taken years of negotiations for the two sides to reach a deal on compensation for Italy's rule over Libya from 1911 to 1943. Libya named Aug. 30 Libyan-Italian Friendship Day.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europ...ref=rss_latest

I'm not against former occupiers assisting the occupied - i think it's their obligation if they worsened the lives of the occupied - however, calling it compensation for occupying the country seems to me an unfortunate choice of wording and a bad precendent.

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Originally posted by jerZ07002 http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europ...ref=rss_latest I'm not against former occupiers assisting the occupied - i think it's their obligation if they worsened the lives of the occupied - however, calling it compensation for occupying the country seems to me an unfortunate choice of wording and a bad precendent.

I'm not sure I agree with this either.
I mean, it was a time of war and giving concessions based on those past policies is kind of a slippery slope.
I would only agree if the ones that weren't the aggressors had been totally devastated by said occupation.
Other than that, I suppose it is Italy's choice to do so even though they really shouldn't feel obligated by anybody - more power to them.

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...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

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Originally posted by Fir3start3r I'm not sure I agree with this either. I mean, it was a time of war and giving concessions based on those past policies is kind of a slippery slope. I would only agree if the ones that weren't the aggressors had been totally devastated by said occupation. Other than that, I suppose it is Italy's choice to do so even though they really shouldn't feel obligated by anybody - more power to them.

I don't like it because I can see other countries calling for compensation because of this precedent. Not that any country is obliged to follow italy's lead, but it gives the claims some credibility. To add to that, If I were an Italian taxpayer, I would not want to compensation the Libyians because of choices made two generations ago.

Excellent, since Italy is being so generous, perhaps it will compensate us for the shit they pulled after WW2. We don't want the money, just give us back the land that was stolen after WW2.

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Too many f-cking precedents lately ... all of them are eventually gonna cause a one big stink.

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Originally posted by Magnetonium Too many f-cking precedents lately ... all of them are eventually gonna cause a one big stink.

Agreed. Wonder how much would UK and Spain have to pay for their colonies. Italy only had Libya, those two had half the world...

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Originally posted by DrUg_Tit0 Agreed. Wonder how much would UK and Spain have to pay for their colonies. Italy only had Libya, those two had half the world...

And even Russia and USA ... LOL

Soviet Union's occupation of some countries and alleged genocide against specific groups is still a hot topic for some people out there.

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Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

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Originally posted by Moongoose Excellent, since Italy is being so generous, perhaps it will compensate us for the shit they pulled after WW2. We don't want the money, just give us back the land that was stolen after WW2.

Didn't you hear the bit about illegal immigrants? You guys first need to flood Italy with unskilled workers!

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I think England should pay America for burning down Washington DC in 1814.

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Originally posted by Krypton I think England should pay America for burning down Washington DC in 1814.

Screw that!

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

That's great for Libya, but what about Ethiopia or Somaliland?

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Originally posted by Lira Didn't you hear the bit about illegal immigrants? You guys first need to flood Italy with unskilled workers!

Hey, we're talking about Slovenia here. They can't even flood Vatican City with unskilled workers, let alone the whole of Italy

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