DATE=7/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251606 (CQ)
TITLE=U-N / LIBYA SANCTIONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL REJECTED CALLS FRIDAY
FOR THE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA. BUT THE
COUNCIL REASSURED LIBYA THAT IT WILL LIFT THE SANCTIONS AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: THE COUNCIL ISSUED A BRIEF STATEMENT SAYING IT WELCOMES
WHAT IT CALLS THE POSITIVE STEPS TAKEN BY LIBYA. IT SAYS LIBYA
HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING SANCTIONS. AND IT ENCOURAGES ALL PARTIES
CONCERNED TO -- IN ITS WORDS -- MAINTAIN THEIR SPIRIT OF
COOPERATION.
THE STATEMENT WAS READ ALOUD BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AGAM HASMY OF
MALAYSIA.
/// HASMY ACT ///
THE COUNCIL RECALLS THAT THE MEASURES SET FORTH IN
RESOLUTIONS 748 AND 883 HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED, AND
REAFFIRMS ITS INTENTION TO LIFT THOSE MEASURES AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE, IN CONFORMITY WITH THE RELEVANT
RESOLUTIONS.
/// END ACT ///
LIBYA HAD ASKED THE COUNCIL TO IMMEDIATELY LIFT THE SANCTIONS,
WHICH WERE IMPOSED AFTER TRIPOLI REFUSED TO HAND OVER FOR TRIAL
TWO SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF A U-S AIRLINER OVER
LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND. IN APRIL THIS YEAR, LIBYA HANDED THE
SUSPECTS OVER TO U-N AUTHORITIES. THEY WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE
NETHERLANDS AND ARE NOW AWAITING TRIAL THERE IN A SCOTTISH COURT.
U-S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS PETER BURLEIGH SAYS
TRIPOLI HAS NOT YET FULLY MET REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFTING THE
SANCTIONS, AS STATED IN COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. BUT HE SAYS THE
COUNCIL STATEMENT NEVERTHELESS COMMENDS THE COOPERATION LIBYA HAS
PROVIDED.
/// BURLEIGH ACT ///
IT DOES RECOGNIZE THAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, IN
PARTICULAR THE HANDOVER OF THE TWO ACCUSED IN APRIL, BUT
THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING
THAT ACCOMPLISHED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IT ENTAILS
SEVERAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING COOPERATION WITH THE
TRIAL AND THE INVESTIGATION LEADING UP TO THE TRIAL,
WHICH IS NOW GOING TO BE IN FEBRUARY OF 2000.
/// END ACT ///
SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED SINCE THE TWO
SUSPECTS IN THE LOCKERBIE BOMBING WERE HANDED OVER IN APRIL.
LIBYA HOPES THE FORMAL LIFTING OF THOSE SANCTIONS WILL SPEED UP
ITS EFFORTS TO REBUILD TRADE TIES WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
UNTIL RECENTLY, THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HELD SIMILAR
POSITIONS ON THE ISSUE OF LIBYA SANCTIONS. BUT OVER THE LAST FEW
WEEKS, BRITAIN HAS RAPIDLY REPAIRED ITS RELATIONS WITH LIBYA, AND
EARLIER THIS WEEK FORMALLY RE-ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC TIES. U-S
AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE
ASSESSING THE SITUATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
09-Jul-99 6:26 PM EDT (2226 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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