DATE=01/16/99
TYPE=ON THE LINE
NUMBER=1-00706 SHORT #1
TITLE=BRINGING LIBYAN TERRORISTS TO JUSTICE
EDITOR=OFFICE OF POLICY - 619-0037
CONTENT= INSERTS AVAILABLE IN AUDIO SERVICES.
THEME: UP, HOLD UNDER AND FADE
ANNCR: ON THE LINE -- A DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES
POLICIES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. THIS WEEK,
"BRINGING LIBYAN TERRORISTS TO JUSTICE." HERE
IS YOUR HOST, --------.
HOST: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ON THE LINE. ON DECEMBER
21ST, 1988, A BOMB EXPLODED ABOARD PAN AMERICAN
FLIGHT 103, THIRTY-ONE THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE
VILLAGE OF LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND. TWO-HUNDRED
SEVENTY MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM TWENTY-ONE
NATIONS LOST THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING NEARLY TWO
HUNDRED AMERICANS. AT A RECENT MEMORIAL
SERVICE, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID THAT THE
LOCKERBIE DEATHS "CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A MERE
MISFORTUNE; THIS WAS DELIBERATE MURDER. AND
WHILE ALL OF US HAVE TO STRIVE FOR
RECONCILIATION IN OUR HEARTS, WE MUST ALSO
PURSUE JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY." THE LIBYANS
SUSPECTED OF BLOWING UP PAN AMERICAN FLIGHT 103
REMAIN AT LARGE. THE U.S. AND BRITAIN HAVE
ACCEPTED A LIBYAN OFFER TO HAVE THE TRIAL HELD
IN THE NETHERLANDS BEFORE A SCOTTISH COURT.
RONALD NEWMANN IS DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
STATE FOR NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS. HE SAYS THAT
GADHAFI HAS YET TO AGREE TO SURRENDER THE
SUSPECTS, LAMIN FHIMAH AND ABDAL BASIT AL
MAGRAHI, FOR TRIAL.
NEWMANN: THEY ARE STILL IN LIBYA. THERE HAVE BEEN A
VARIETY OF MEETINGS THAT THE U-N LEGAL ADVISOR
HAS HELD TO CLARIFY POINTS THE LAWYERS FOR THE
LIBYANS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT. THERE HAS BEEN A
MISSION OF THE [U-N] SECRETARY GENERAL, WHICH HE
UNDERTOOK HOPING THAT HE WOULD HAVE SOME
SIGNIFICANT RESULTS. BUT AS OF NOW, LIBYA HAS
NOT MADE THE DECISION TO TURN OVER THE SUSPECTS
AS IT'S REQUIRED TO DO. IT HAS NOT CLEARLY SAID
IT WOULD NOT, BUT TIME IS PASSING. IT'S NOW
BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE WE FIRST MADE THE OFFER,
NEARLY TWO MONTHS SINCE ALL THE SUBSTANTIVE
DISCUSSIONS APPEARED TO BE COMPLETE, AND THE
LIBYANS STILL HAVE NOT GIVEN AN ANSWER.
HOST: PATRICK CLAWSON IS DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT THE
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY. HE
SAYS THAT GADHAFI HAS TOO MUCH TO LOSE FROM
TURNING OVER THE SUSPECTS SINCE THEY COULD
IMPLICATE HIM IN THE PAN AM BOMBING.
CLAWSON: I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS
KNOW ABOUT OTHER TERRORIST ACTIVITIES THE LIBYAN
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN. SO, BEFORE
GADHAFI HANDS THEM OVER, HE WOULD NEED TO
CAREFULLY CONSTRUCT SOME INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO
KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT ABOUT THESE OTHER
ACTIVITIES. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE TRICKY FOR
HIM TO DO. I WOULD BE QUITE SURPRISED IF HE
TURNED THEM OVER.
HOST: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY NEWMANN SAYS THAT THE
U.S WILL SEEK HARSHER SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IF
GADHAFI DOES NOT SEND THE SUSPECTS TO TRIAL.
NEWMANN: WE CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO LEAVE THIS INITIATIVE
ON THE TABLE INDEFINITELY, HAVING MADE A
SUBSTANTIAL POLITICAL STEP OURSELVES, JUST TO
SIT THERE SMILING PLEASANTLY WHILE GADHAFI DOES
NOTHING. SO IF HE DOES NOTHING, THEN I THINK WE
HAVE TO TRY [FOR SANCTIONS]. HOW FAR THE
EUROPEANS WILL GO, HOW FAR OTHERS WILL GO, THAT
REMAINS TO BE SEEN. BUT I THINK THERE IS AT
LEAST AN AWARENESS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ADVICE
GIVEN TO US BY OUR ARAB FRIENDS, BY EUROPEANS,
BY AFRICANS THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A GESTURE OF
COMPROMISE. WE TOOK THAT ADVICE. WE MADE THAT
GESTURE. NOW IF GADHAFI DOESN'T FOLLOW THROUGH,
I THINK THOSE FRIENDS WHO GAVE US THE ADVICE
HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR OWN PART TO
HELP BOLSTER US.
HOST: PATRICK CLAWSON FROM THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE
FOR NEAR EAST POLICY SAYS THAT OIL SANCTIONS
AGAINST LIBYA COULD HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT
BECAUSE OF THE HUGE DROP IN OIL PRICES. FOR ON
THE LINE, THIS IS --------.
ANNCR: YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO "ON THE LINE" -- A
DISCUSSION OF UNITED STATES POLICIES AND
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. THIS IS --------.
14-Jan-99 4:07 PM EST (2107 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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