OBAMA: WE WILL MAKE BP PAY FOR ITS OIL SPILL
Baku, June 16 (AZERTAC). President Barack Obama has told the American people the energy company BP will be required to pay for all the damage caused by its giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It was the president`s first nationally-televised address from the Oval Office since he took office 17 months ago, VOA reports.
Eight weeks after BP`s Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 workers and sending oil spewing into the Gulf, President Obama said the U.S. government will hold the company responsible.
"But make no mistake: We will fight this spill with everything we have got for as long as it takes," said President Obama. "We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused. And we will do whatever is necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy."
Mr. Obama said when he meets with BP officials on Wednesday, he will demand that they establish a fund, administered by an independent third party, to benefit the spill`s victims.
"Tomorrow, I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company`s recklessness," he said.
Immediately after the president spoke, BP released a statement saying it shared his goal of cleaning up the oil and helping those affected by the disaster.
Mr. Obama returned to Washington Tuesday, after inspecting the damage during a two-day visit to the Gulf region.
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