DATE=4/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247643
TITLE=BRITAIN / LOCKERBIE (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS WELCOMED NEWS THAT TWO
LIBYANS SUSPECTED OF THE 1988 BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINER
HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO THE UNITED NATIONS. THEY WILL STAND
TRIAL IN A SCOTTISH COURT SET UP IN THE NETHERLANDS. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS THE HANDOVER WILL
OPEN THE WAY FOR ENDING U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA.
TEXT: FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE THE HANDOVER
OF THE LIBYAN SUSPECTS ENDS TEN YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC AND LEGAL
WRANGLING OVER WHEN AND HOW THE LOCKERBIE TRIAL WOULD BE
CONDUCTED.
/// COOK ACT //
IT CREATES LEGAL HISTORY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT
ANY COUNTRY HAS ATTEMPTED TO CARRY OUT A TRIAL UNDER ITS
LAWS AND PROCEDURES IN A THIRD COUNTRY.
/// END ACT ///
THE TWO LIBYANS ARE ACCUSED OF PLANTING THE BOMB THAT BLEW UP AN
AMERICAN JUMBO JET OVER THE SCOTTISH TOWN OF LOCKERBIE.
TWO-HUNDRED-70 PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
THE TRANSFER OF THE SUSPECTS OPENS THE WAY FOR ENDING U-N
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED IN 1992 AFTER LIBYA REFUSED TO
COOPERATE WITH THE LOCKERBIE INVESTIGATION.
/// COOK ACT TWO ///
SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED ON LIBYA NOT BECAUSE OF THE
BOMBING BUT BECAUSE OF THE REFUSAL TO HAND OVER THE TWO
SUSPECTS. ONCE THEY HAND OVER THE TWO SUSPECTS, IT IS
LOGICAL TO SUSPEND SANCTIONS.
/// END ACT ///
MR. COOK SAYS U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANAN HAS THREE MONTHS TO
REPORT ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE U-N SANCTIONS RESOLUTION, WHICH
INCLUDE LIBYA'S RENUNCIATION OF TERRORISM AND COMPENSATION FOR
RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS IF THE TWO SUSPECTS ARE FOUND GUILTY.
/// OPT /// THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS SOUTH AFRICAN
PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AS WELL AS SAUDI AND OTHER ARAB
DIPLOMATS HELPED PERSUADE LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI THAT THE
SUSPECTS WOULD GET A FAIR TRIAL IN A SCOTTISH COURT. /// END
OPT ///
JIM SWIRE, WHOSE ELDEST DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN THE BOMBING,
EARLIER TOLD V-O-A NEWS THE TRIAL IS IMPORTANT FOR RELATIVES OF
THE VICTIMS WHO NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY.
/// SWIRE ACT ///
IT'S A UNIVERSAL NEED PEOPLE HAVE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE
THIS HAPPENS. THEY NEED TO KNOW IN MINUTE DETAIL WHAT
HAPPENED AND WHY.
/// END ACT ///
MR. SWIRE -- THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE FAMILIES OF BRITISH VICTIMS --
SAYS HE AND OTHER RELATIVES WILL FOLLOW THE TRIAL CLOSELY AT
HOME AND IN THE SPECIAL COURTROOM IN THE NETHERLANDS. SEVERAL
ALSO EXPECT TO BE CALLED AS WITNESSES. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
05-Apr-99 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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