DATE= APRIL 7, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07726
TITLE= EDITORIAL: LIBYA'S LACK OF COMPLIANCE
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
APRIL 7, 1998.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
LIBYA HAS YET TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS
DEMANDING COOPERATION IN INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO TERRORIST
BOMBINGS. PAN AM FLIGHT 1-0-3 WAS BLOWN UP OVER LOCKERBIE,
SCOTLAND, ON DECEMBER 21ST, 1988. FRENCH U-T-A FLIGHT 7-7-2
EXPLODED OVER NIGER IN SEPTEMBER 1989. FOUR-HUNDRED FORTY-ONE
PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THESE TERRORIST ATTACKS.
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA FOR
ITS FAILURE TO TURN OVER TWO LIBYAN SECURITY OPERATIVES ACCUSED
OF BOMBING PAN AM FLIGHT 1-0-3. LIBYA IS ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY
COMPENSATION TO THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE BOMBINGS AND TO
RENOUNCE TERRORISM.
LAST MONTH, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL REVIEWED LIBYA'S LACK OF
COMPLIANCE AND DETERMINED THAT THE SANCTIONS MUST BE RENEWED.
THE SANCTIONS PROHIBIT INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL TO LIBYA AND THE
PROVISION OF SUPPLIES TO LIBYA'S AIRLINES. LIBYAN LEADER
MOAMMAR GADHAFI CLAIMS THAT THIS HAS CAUSED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FOR
THE LIBYAN PEOPLE. YET THANKS TO ITS ABUNDANT OIL, LIBYA IS THE
RICHEST COUNTRY PER CAPITA IN AFRICA. ANY HARDSHIP IS THE RESULT
OF THE RAMPANT CORRUPTION AND GROSS ECONOMIC MISMANAGEMENT OF THE
GADHAFI REGIME.
THE U-N HAS TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE THE GENUINE NEEDS OF THE
LIBYAN PEOPLE. IT HAS AUTHORIZED MANY MEDICAL EVACUATION FLIGHTS
AND HUNDREDS OF DIRECT FIGHTS FROM LIBYA TO SAUDI ARABIA FOR
PILGRIMAGES TO MECCA. IN FACT, MORE LIBYANS FLY TO MECCA NOW
THAN BEFORE THE SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED.
AS THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U-N, BILL RICHARDSON, SAID,
"LIBYA'S COURSE OF ACTION IS CLEAR: STOP THE UNCONSCIONABLE
HARASSMENT OF THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS, STOP SUPPORTING
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, STOP STONEWALLING THIS INVESTIGATION AND
FINALLY HAND OVER THE TWO SUSPECTS IN THE LOCKERBIE BOMBING."
ONLY THEN, SAID AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON, WILL SANCTIONS BE LIFTED.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS,
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202)
619-1043.
06-Apr-98 3:06 PM EDT (1906 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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