ACCESSION NUMBER:278312
FILE ID:TXT501
DATE:04/16/93
TITLE:U.N. SANCTIONS RENEWED FOR LIBYAN TERRORISM (04/16/93)
TEXT:*93041601.TXT
U.N. SANCTIONS RENEWED FOR LIBYAN TERRORISM
(VOA Editorial) (400)
(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America April 16,
reflecting the views of the U.S. government.)
The U.N. Security Council recently reviewed and upheld the sanctions
imposed last year against the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Qadhafi.
1he sanctions were adopted in response to Libya's refusal to cooperate with
international efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the 1988
bombing of a U.S. airliner and the 1989 bombing of a French airliner. More
than 400 men, women, and children lost their lives in these savage acts of
international terrorism.
In November 1991, U.S. and British authorities issued warrants for the
arrest of two Libyans for the bombing of Pan American Flight 103 over
Lockerbie, Scotland. The United States and the United Kingdom have
conclusive evidence linking Abdel Ali Al-Megrahi, a senior Libyan
intelligence officer, and Lamem Fhimah, former manager of the Libyan
airlines office in Malta, to the suitcase bomb that was used to murder the
259 people on the plane and 11 others on the ground.
In January 1992, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 731 supporting
U.S., British and French government demands for the surrender of the
Libyans connected with the bombings. Those demands also require Libya to
pay appropriate compensation for the murders and to cease all terrorist
actions and support for terrorist groups.
When the Libyan government failed to respond fully to those demands, U.N.
Security Council Resolution 748 was adopted in March 1992 to impose
sanctions on Libya. The sanctions include a ban on air traffic into and
out of Libya, an embargo on aircraft services and parts, a ban on sales of
military services and equipment, and reductions in Libyan diplomatic
representation abroad.
The United States wants full Libyan compliance with U.N. Security Council
Resolutions 731 and 748, and will continue to monitor and act on reports of
possible violations of the sanctions against Libya. As President Bill
Clinton recently said, "it is inevitable that we will press for tougher
sanctions if the government of Libya does not release the people that have
been charged." Clinton said that "there is a lot of evidence" against the
Libyans charged with the bombings. "They should go on trial," said
President Clinton, and if found guilty, "they should be punished."
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