Czech government to negotiate debt clearance with Libya

The Czech government has authorized Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek to negotiate with Libyan authorities about the debt of the Mediterranean country to the Czech Republic. The total amount Libya owes is classified; the total Libyan debt to former Czechoslovakia was 7.6 billion crowns, or more than 400 million US dollars. A possible settlement deal between the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Libya should also involve compensation for the families of Libyan children allegedly infected with HIV by Bulgarian nurses.