DATE=12/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243361
TITLE=LOCKERBIE ANNIVERSARY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEMORIAL SERVICES ARE BEING HELD IN BOTH BRITAIN AND THE
UNITED STATES TO MARK THE EXACT MOMENT (1903 U-T-C / 2:03 PM
EST) 10 YEARS AGO WHEN A NEW YORK-BOUND U-S AIRLINER EXPLODED
AND CRASHED OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND -- A TRAGEDY CAUSED BY A
TERRORIST'S BOMB. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS ON
PROGRESS BEING MADE TO BRING TWO LIBYANS SUSPECTED OF PLANTING
THE BOMB TO STAND TRIAL IN THE NETHERLANDS.
TEXT: FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF VICTIMS OF THE AIRLINER BOMBING,
THEIR HEADS BOWED UNDER A LIGHT SCOTTISH RAIN, LISTEN TO A
MINISTER'S WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE DURING CEREMONIES IN LOCKERBIE'S
DRYFESDALE CEMETERY .
/// MINISTER'S VOICE ///
TEN YEARS AGO FOR YOU AND FOR US A BOMB WAS TICKING.
BE ASSURED OF THIS, ANOTHER BOMB IS TICKING -- THE BOMB
OF JUSTICE AND TRUTH. BE CERTAIN THAT OUR WREATH-LAYING
IS NOT A SYMBOLIC GESTURE. IT IS DECLARATION THAT WE
WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE HAVE JUSTICE AND TRUTH AND
UNTIL ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DEATHS ARE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
/// END ACT ///
ABOUT 50 FOREIGNERS, INCLUDING AMERICANS, JOINED THE PEOPLE OF
LOCKERBIE FOR THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S WORST
AIR DISASTERS. TWO-HUNDRED-70!PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN A
BOMB EXPLODED IN THE PLANE AS IT PASSED OVER THE SCOTTISH TOWN.
PRINCE PHILIP, QUEEN ELIZABETH'S HUSBAND, ATTENDED THE CEREMONY
AND LINGERED TO CHAT WITH RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS.
TEN YEARS LATER THE CONCERN FOR MOST OF THE MOURNERS IS BRINGING
THE TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS IN THE BOMBING CASE TO TRIAL. THEY MAY
NOT HAVE TO WAIT MUCH LONGER.
LIBYA HAS BEEN UNDER U-N SANCTIONS SINCE 1992 FOR REFUSING TO
HAND OVER THE TWO MEN. LAST AUGUST, THE BRITISH AND U-S
GOVERNMENTS DROPPED THEIR DEMANDS FOR A TRIAL IN ONE OF THEIR
JURISDICTIONS AND AGREED TO LIBYA'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO HOLD THE
TRIAL IN A THIRD, NEUTRAL COUNTRY.
BRITAIN'S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
DEREK FATCHETT, SAYS THE ONLY OBSTACLE NOW IS LIBYA'S OBJECTION
TO THE SUSPECTS SERVING TIME IN A SCOTTISH PRISON, IF CONVICTED.
/// FATCHETT ACT ///
IT APPEARS AS IF THE ONLY OUTSTANDING ISSUE IS IF THE
TWO ACCUSED ARE FOUND GUILTY, WHERE THEY WILL SERVE
THEIR PRISON SENTENCE. AND WE HAVE SAID THAT THERE IS
NO QUESTION THAT THE SENTENCE WILL HAVE TO BE IN A
SCOTTISH PRISON BECAUSE THE TRIAL IS TAKING PLACE UNDER
SCOTTISH LAW, UNDER A SCOTTISH JUDGE IN A SCOTTISH
COURT, EXCEPT THE COURT IS BASED IN A THIRD COUNTRY.
/// END ACT ///
IN AN EARLIER INTERVIEW WITH BRITISH RADIO, BRITISH FOREIGN
SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAYS THERE IS NO COMPROMISE ON THAT ISSUE.
BUT HE OFFERED TO OPEN UP SCOTTISH PRISONS FOR LIBYA'S
INSPECTION.
U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN MET WITH LIBYA'S COLONEL MOAMMAR
GADDAFI EARLIER THIS MONTH TO CLARIFY SEVERAL POINTS OF CONCERN.
LAST WEEK THE LIBYAN GENERAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS EXPRESSED ITS
SATISFACTION WITH A TRIAL IN A THIRD COUNTRY. BUT IT IS UP TO
LIBYA'S LEADER TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
21-Dec-98 11:44 AM EST (1644 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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