DATE=8/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237589
TITLE=U-S / LOCKERBIE (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE AGREED TO SET UP A
SCOTTISH COURT IN THE NETHERLANDS TO TRY TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS
WANTED IN THE TERRORIST BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER
SCOTLAND 10 YEARS AGO. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS SOME
RELATIVES OF THE 259 PEOPLE KILLED ON THE FLIGHT ARE NOT HAPPY
ABOUT THE DECISION.
TEXT: IN SIMULTANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS IN WASHINGTON AND LONDON,
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN DROPPED LONG-STANDING DEMANDS THAT
THE TWO LIBYANS FACE TRIAL IN EITHER COUNTRY. INSTEAD, BOTH
GOVERNMENTS ARE MOVING AHEAD WITH A PLAN FOR SCOTTISH JUDGES TO
HEAR THE CASE IN THE HAGUE, ADMITTING THAT YEARS OF U-N SANCTIONS
HAVE FAILED TO GET LIBYA TO HAND THE SUSPECTS OVER FOR JUSTICE IN
EITHER COUNTRY.
IN ANNOUNCING THE CHANGE, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
NOTED LIBYA'S CONCERNS THAT THE SUSPECTS WOULD NOT RECEIVE A
FAIR TRIAL IN THE UNITED STATES OR BRITAIN HAVE HOW BEEN
ADDRESSED.
// ALBRIGHT ACT //
WE NOTE THAT LIBYA HAS REPEATEDLY STATED ITS READINESS
TO DELIVER THE SUSPECTS FOR TRIAL BY A SCOTTISH COURT
SITTING IN A THIRD COUNTRY. THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN
ENDORSED BY THE ARAB LEAGUE, THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN
UNITY, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE AND
THE NON ALIGNED MOVEMENT. WE NOW CHALLENGE LIBYA TO TURN
PROMISES INTO DEEDS. THE SUSPECTS SHOULD BE SURRENDERED
FOR TRIAL PROMPTLY.
// END ACT //
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN CALL IT A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT DEAL,
ONE THAT IS NOT UP FOR NEGOTIATION BUT ONE WHICH IS -- AS
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT PUT IT -- INTENDED TO CALL LIBYA'S BLUFF.
BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, SHE SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE RELATIVES OF
THOSE KILLED ON PAN AM FLIGHT 103 WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING NEARLY A
DECADE FOR JUSTICE. DANIEL COHEN, WHO LOST HIS ONLY DAUGHTER IN
THE BLAST, DENOUNCED THE PLAN AS A COMPROMISE TO TERRORISTS.
// COHEN ACT //
WHAT I'M AFRAID WE'RE DOING, DESPITE ALL OF THE TALK
ABOUT THIS (BEING) ABSOLUTELY NON-NEGOTIABLE, WE'VE GOT
AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS LOSING THE SANCTIONS WAR,
UNQUESTIONABLY AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THIS THING OFF
THE TABLE SOMEHOW AND THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE TOO MANY
COMPROMISES AND I'M AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO GET
COMPROMISED INTO GOD KNOWS WHAT. FROM A PERSONAL POINT
OF VIEW, MY ONLY CHILD IS DEAD. I'M NOT GOING TO
BENEFIT FROM A TRIAL, GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY, SHE'S NOT
COMING BACK. THE COUNTRY IS HOWEVER, GOING TO SUFFER
BY HAVING SET THIS KIND OF A PRECEDENT, BY THIS KIND OF
COMPROMISE WITH AN UNRECONSTRUCTED TERRORIST STATE.
// END ACT //
SINCE 1992, LIBYA HAS BEEN UNDER U-N IMPOSED SANCTIONS CUTTING
AIR LINKS AND ARMS SALES TO THE COUNTRY UNTIL IT HANDS OVER THE
TWO SUSPECTS -- SUSPECTS THE UNITED STATES SAYS HAVE CONNECTIONS
TO LIBYAN INTELLIGENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/KL
24-Aug-98 2:05 PM EDT (1805 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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