Did Shell draft a letter Tony Blair sent to Gaddafi while PM?
source: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article710...
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- Mcellie
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The Times claim they've obtained a letter which shows Tony Blair 'lobbied' Colonel Muammar Gaddafi for the oil company Shell. They say the connection comes from the letter being similar to a briefing note created weeks earlier by Shell to try and get a deal with Libya.
"According to the Shell draft, the letter’s objective was “to cause the Leader to instruct the Cabinet to approve/finalise quickly” the company’s deal. Shell tells the Prime Minister to congratulate the Libyan leader on Revolution Day and to comment on the “remarkable year of progress for Libya”. In relation to the Shell deal, the draft letter said: “Understand that all the terms of the agreement have now been negotiated and approved ... now waiting for [Libyan] Cabinet approval.”"- The Times.
This is a very interesting article, because it sounds like the newspaper had to get the letters (or part of them) through the Freedom of Information, looking forward to seeing of this story goes any further. Though what sparked the investigation is the release of al-Megrahi and questions over speculated intentions in the UK-Libyan relationship.
"BP has signed a $900 million deal to explore offshore oilfields and BG Group, the former British Gas, is searching for resources in the Libyan Desert. Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil producer, secured a $500 million deal to build a liquid natural gas terminal on the Libyan coast. BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence company, also struck a deal to upgrade the country’s air traffic control system. "-The Times
"According to the Shell draft, the letter’s objective was “to cause the Leader to instruct the Cabinet to approve/finalise quickly” the company’s deal. Shell tells the Prime Minister to congratulate the Libyan leader on Revolution Day and to comment on the “remarkable year of progress for Libya”. In relation to the Shell deal, the draft letter said: “Understand that all the terms of the agreement have now been negotiated and approved ... now waiting for [Libyan] Cabinet approval.”"- The Times.
This is a very interesting article, because it sounds like the newspaper had to get the letters (or part of them) through the Freedom of Information, looking forward to seeing of this story goes any further. Though what sparked the investigation is the release of al-Megrahi and questions over speculated intentions in the UK-Libyan relationship.
"BP has signed a $900 million deal to explore offshore oilfields and BG Group, the former British Gas, is searching for resources in the Libyan Desert. Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil producer, secured a $500 million deal to build a liquid natural gas terminal on the Libyan coast. BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence company, also struck a deal to upgrade the country’s air traffic control system. "-The Times
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