Published Friday, 04 September 2009
Backing a multimillion-pound claim against Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi would go some way to restoring the damage inflicted on the UK's reputation by the Lockerbie bomber controversy, Mr Donaldson added.
The Lagan Valley MP called for action as he met with Foreign Office officials to discuss the logistics of taking a delegation of the bereaved relatives who are suing the Libyan leader to Tripoli for face-to-face talks with the administration.
They are seeking compensation for Libya's role in providing arms and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles.
Earlier this week the authorities in Tripoli revealed they were in talks with White Hall about a potential pay out and hinted that a deal could be struck.
'Duty'
Mr Donaldson said it was now the government's duty to press Col Gaddafi to pay up.
"We are moving further down the line towards a delegation of victims going to Libya to have face-to-face talks about the culpability of that country," he said after the meeting at the Foreign Office.
"Without the help, both financial and in terms of training and arms supplies, of the Libyan authorities, the Provisional IRA would not have been able to wage their campaign of terror and crime on anything like the scale that we witnessed for 35 years."
"Innocent people throughout the United Kingdom lost their lives because the Libyans armed, trained and bank-rolled the IRA."
"Not only do they have a moral responsibility to compensate the UK victims of their sponsorship of IRA terrorism, but our own government has an obligation to those who suffered also."
Mr Donaldson was accompanied at the meeting by Labour MP for Thurrock Andrew MacKinlay, who is also a strong supporter of the families' campaign.
The relatives' calls for justice have intensified since the release last month of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from a Scottish jail on compassionate grounds.
Mr Donaldson said he hoped to meet officials in the Libyan Embassy soon in order to set up the trip to Tripoli.
"Recent allegations that the government felt it was not in the UK's strategic interest to keep the Lockerbie bomber detained in jail have damaged people's perception of the government of our country in a major way," he added.
"They have an opportunity here to prove that justice for UK citizens and not access to oil is their primary concern."
"They need to extend every possible assistance to those who suffered as a consequence of the actions of the Libyan dictator."