DATE=8/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237583
TITLE=BRITAIN / LOCKERBIE (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AFTER MONTHS OF CONSULTATIONS, THE U-S AND BRITISH
GOVERNMENTS SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO LET TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS IN
THE LOCKERBIE CASE BE TRIED IN THE HAGUE -- A NEUTRAL LOCATION --
BUT UNDER SCOTTISH LAW. BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK AND
U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT
SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAPITALS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT
LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON ON THE BRITISH POINT OF VIEW.
TEXT: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK SAYS BRITAIN HAS ASKED THE
U-N SECRETARY GENERAL TO PASS THE PROPOSAL TO LIBYA. NOW, HE
SAYS, IT IS UP TO LIBYA TO AGREE TO WHAT LIBYA ITSELF HAS ALREADY
PROPOSED.
/// COOK ACT ///
THE TWO ACCUSED WILL OBTAIN A FAIR TRIAL IN A SCOTTISH
COURT. AND THE EVIDENCE WILL BE PROPERLY WEIGHED UNDER
SCOTTISH PROCEDURES. IF THEY ARE INNOCENT, THEY HAVE
NOTHING TO FEAR FROM SCOTTISH JUSTICE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. COOK SAYS IT IS UP TO LIBYA TO TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
/// OPT // COOK ACT ///
WE ARE WELL AWARE OF WHAT THE LIBYANS HAVE SAID IN
PUBLIC AND TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AND WE ARE ALSO
AWARE OF WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SAID AS
INTERMEDIARIES ON BEHALF OF LIBYA. WE NOW EXPECT LIBYA
TO HONOR THOSE UNDERTAKINGS AND WE LOOK FOR SUPPORT FROM
THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE CONVEYED TO US THE VIEW OF
LIBYA NOW TO HOLD LIBYA TO THOSE VIEWS.
/// END OPT ACT ///
THE TWO LIBYANS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THE 1988 BOMBING OF AN
AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, WHICH KILLED 259
PEOPLE.
SCOTLAND'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, ANDREW HARDIE, SAYS HE IS SATISFIED
WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS TO HOLD THE TRIAL IN THE HAGUE AS LONG AS
IT IS PRESIDED OVER BY THREE SCOTTISH JUDGES. ON THE TIMING OF
THE TRIAL, THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR SAYS IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHEN LIBYA
HANDS OVER THE SUSPECTS.
/// HARDIE ACT ///
FROM THAT DATE OF FULL COMMITTAL WE HAVE 110 DAYS ONLY
TO COMMENCE THE TRIAL. IT MAY BE OF COURSE THAT THE
DEFENSE WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTENSION. THAT WOULD BE A
MATTER FOR THE COURT. BUT ON THAT TIME SCALE WE WOULD
BE LOOKING FOR A TRIAL SOMETIME ABOUT MAY.
/// END ACT ///
MR. HARDIE SAYS A SCOTTISH TRIAL IN THE HAGUE WOULD ADHERE TO
SCOTTISH LEGAL PROCEDURES. THE SUSPECTS WOULD BE HELD IN CUSTODY
IN A SCOTTISH FACILITY IN THE HAGUE AND COULD EXPECT TO SERVE
TIME IN SCOTTISH JAILS, IF CONVICTED.
FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK HOLDS OUT THE PROSPECT OF AN END TO
SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IF LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADAHFI HANDS
OVER THE SUSPECTS.
/// COOK ACT ///
COLONEL GADAHFI AND THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA HAVE MADE IT
PLAIN THEY WANT TO SEE THOSE SANCTIONS REMOVED. IF
THOSE STATEMENTS ARE MADE IN GOOD FAITH, THEN THERE IS
NOW ONE VERY CLEAR WAY IN WHICH TO COMPLY WITH THAT. AND
THAT IS TO SURRENDER THE TWO SUSPECTS FOR TRIAL IN THE
VERY TERMS THAT LIBYA ITSELF HAS SOUGHT.
/// END ACT ///
THE TWO LIBYANS ARE ACCUSED OF PLANTING THE SUITCASE BOMB THAT
BLEW UP AN AMERICAN JUMBO JET OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND NEARLY TEN
YEARS AGO. THE UNITED NATIONS IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IN
1992 AFTER COLONEL GADAHFI REFUSED TO HAND OVER THE TWO MEN.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/KL
24-Aug-98 12:58 PM EDT (1658 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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