Italy gives $5bn to former African colony. Should other powers follow suit?

[Father Jack]

Original article from BBC news.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7589557.stm

Italy seals Libya colonial deal

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has signed an agreement to pay Libya $5bn as part of a deal to resolve colonial-era disputes.
Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi said the settlement signed in the city of Benghazi opened the door to partnership between the two states.
Mr Berlusconi said the deal, which sees the money being released over 25 years, ended "40 years of misunderstanding".
Libya was occupied by Italy in 1911 before becoming a colony in the 1930s.
The former Ottoman territory became an independent country in 1951.
This is the first African country to be compensated by a former colonial master, the BBC's Rana Jawad reports from Benghazi.
The question is, she adds: will this latest move set precedents for other former African countries to follow suit?

Coastal motorway
Mr Berlusconi explained that $200m would be paid annually over the next 25 years through investments in infrastructure projects, the main one being a coastal motorway between the Egyptian and Tunisian borders.

There will also be a colonial-era mine clearing project.
As a goodwill gesture, Italy also returned an ancient statue of Venus, the headless "Venus of Cyrene", which had been taken to Rome in colonial times.
The settlement was a "complete and moral acknowledgement of the damage inflicted on Libya by Italy during the colonial era", the Italian prime minister said.
"In this historic document, Italy apologises for its killing, destruction and repression against Libyans during the colonial rule," Col Gaddafi said for his part.
The agreement was signed in the Benghazi palace which once housed the Italian colonial administration, Reuters news agency reports.
Rome and Tripoli have spent years arguing over compensation for the colonial period.
Mr Berlusconi's one-day trip was his second since June when illegal immigration from Africa to Europe was the key issue of talks.
Italy has been swamped by thousands of African migrants trying to reach its shores by boat. Libya has come in from the diplomatic cold since 2003 when it abandoned efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Next week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to make the first high-ranking American visit to Libya since 1953

So should other powers that held colonies in Africa feel as though they should pay compensation back to them?
I am personaly against this.

What do we think of Berlusconi's actions?

[Chaigidel]

man mohmar has it made; concubines deadly squad body guards gold and purple royal clothes all this palaces and hos--- and everybody lets him do it and claim the rights of the "libyan people"

[Markas]

It's a slippery political move by Berlusconi to kill a few birds with one stone (well, 25 stones worth $200 million). Build up potential trading partner? check. Hope to stop the influx of African immigrants? check. Make yourself look like you have a conscience? Check. I bet he's slapping his chubby flanks in self-satisfaction.

[Ishoss]

Wonder how much of those money happens to magically fund some Gadaffi stuff?

Remember a few years ago when Gadaffis son played in Serie A. Iirc it turned out the only reason he was at the club was 'cause of his father, and he was even taken with dope...

[Father Jack]

It's a slippery political move by Berlusconi to kill a few birds with one stone (well, 25 stones worth $200 million). Build up potential trading partner? check. Hope to stop the influx of African immigrants? check. Make yourself look like you have a conscience? Check. I bet he's slapping his chubby flanks in self-satisfaction.

My thoughts exactly. It also makes him look like the 'Mr Ethical' leader of Europe, its clear that he doesnt care about Libya's infrastructure only if it makes him look better and sorts out the immigration problem. = happy electorate

Well put it to a vote for the people to decide, my personal take on it is no...people today arent under obligation to atone for the past unless they are repeating the same acts.

Well I doubt the native population would we so willing to vote in favour for this. It reminds me somewhat of the apologising for the salve trade thing a few years ago.

God no. Britain would be out of money if we had to give hand iuts to every country in the world we've occupied and rules over the years.

Haha exactly and Britain simply cannot afford to pay $5bn for each of her former African colonies. I mean will Canada or even the USA start demanding cash?

[danzig]

Well put it to a vote for the people to decide, my personal take on it is no...people today arent under obligation to atone for the past unless they are repeating the same acts.

[Каие]

Well put it to a vote for the people to decide, my personal take on it is no...people today arent under obligation to atone for the past unless they are repeating the same acts.

Unless the past in question is their present. A lot of colonies only received independence etc. in the last 45 years. Their ear still those alive and living the consequence of the actions of today's living generations.

[Erik]

Wow, I didn't think Berlusconi would give in to Gaddafi's blackmailing so easily.
I wonder what Gaddafi's next demand will be.

About the original question: I think former colonial powers should help their former colonies.
Not to pay off debts, but to take your responsibility as a "master" to ensure your "subject" has a future.
Kinda like parents taking care of their children until they can take care of their own.

[VALIS]

God no. Britain would be bankrupt if we had to give hand outs to every country in the world we've occupied and ruled over the years.
However if those respective countries would accept a donation of several billion pounds in return for complete surrender of soverignty and amalgamation into a new British Empire then I'm sure something could be arranged.

[Mikelus Trento]

God no. Britain would be bankrupt if we had to give hand outs to every country in the world we've occupied and ruled over the years.
However if those respective countries would accept a donation of several billion pounds in return for complete surrender of soverignty and amalgamation into a new British Empire then I'm sure something could be arranged.

I can safely say you are under no obligation to repay your American colonies.

[MaximiIian]

No. To put it poetically, the sins of the father are not the son's to bear.

[Arto]

Germany could, they had one of the least and the Dutch could give Ambon... oh wait they can't.

Edit: Guess what the commercial for this thread is. ''Meet Libya Women'' I'm suprised it wasn't about ''Single Muslim Ladies''

[Poach]

I am against this idea. Why should we pay African countries that have been their own for a good hundred years or so on average? I see no point in giving such payments.

[Erebus Pasha]

I'm sure a payout to Zimbabwe would go down a treat!

[Father Jack]

I'm sure a payout to Zimbabwe would go down a treat!

Well aslong as we make it 5bn Zimbabwe dollars then we dont have anything to worry about.

[Каие]

I'm sure a payout to Zimbabwe would go down a treat!

lol, we should. Give them one pound, which is 500 billion Zimbabwean dollars.

I demand the UK compensate me with a few 100k pounds because of there oppression back in the colonial days....in america!

Seriously if African colonies get money us Americans an Canadiens should get some $$ too!

You've misunderstood, its only compensation for things done by the living generations not 200 years ago.

No. The taxpayers of Italy shouldn't have to pay a cent. They didn't do any of it.

It was only 60 years ago.

[boofhead]

It was only 60 years ago.

Is that all? 95% of those who had anything to do with it would be dead, or on pensions and not paying tax. Same diff.

[Каие]

Is that all? 95% of those who had anything to do with it would be dead, or on pensions and not paying tax. Same diff.

The generation is still alive, I know people who get compensation because they were wrongly imprisoned 20 years ago. Why the judge who sentenced him and the jury is long gone. It's justice.

[SigniferOne]

The generation is still alive, I know people who get compensation because they were wrongly imprisoned 20 years ago.

Who were imprisoned within your legal system -- US or European. There is no law between nations, philosophically. Only respect/opinion is what matters. (I'm sorry, UN is trying to create some airy rights out of thin air, but read Rousseau and Locke, nations are in a state of nature with each other.)

[Fluttershy]

You've misunderstood, its only compensation for things done by the living generations not 200 years ago

more like they only wanna compensate black people... srsly British oppression and its affects are still felt by many new englanders to this day. ( everytime im handed a cup of tea I cant help but throw it into a body of water)