Reply #55: Gadhafi's gas stations pose dilemma for Europe [View All]

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Gadhafi's Gas Stations Pose Dilemma for Europe


AP Enterprise: Europe accepts assurances from Libyan oil company it won't pay Gadhafi


April 1, 2011 (AP)


COLLOMBEY-MURAZ, Switzerland (AP) — Flames and smoke shoot up from the Libyan-owned oil refinery on the eastern tip of Lake Geneva, suggesting one of Moammar Gadhafi's outposts in Europe is still in business. As world powers tighten their military and financial grip around his regime, some governments are hesitating to freeze all of the assets controlled by the North African country's repressive ruler.

An Associated Press investigation has found that several European countries have accepted assurances from Libya's Tamoil petroleum company that none of its profits reach Tripoli. In return, Tamoil has been allowed to continue operating unchecked, despite the fact its parent company is on a United Nations sanctions list.

Officials at Tamoil's European headquarters didn't return requests for comment, but representatives at four of the group's national subsidiaries said they were abiding by the sanctions.

"No money from the gas stations flows, directly or indirectly, to persons or institutions subject to sanctions," Catrin Bedi, of Tamoil's German subsidiary, told AP. All money was reinvested to expand the German operation, she said.


http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=13273046