DATE=8/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N LOCKERBIE LETTER (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265866
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
INTRO: A letter of understanding for the trial of two
Libyans accused of the 1988 bombing of an airliner
over Lockerbie, Scotland was released today (Friday.
The letter, from United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan to Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, says the two
suspects will not be used to "undermine the Libyan
regime."
TEXT: The letter was written in February of 1999
shortly before the two suspects were turned over for
trial by a Scottish court meeting in the Netherlands.
The letter outlines detention and trial procedure and
a key sentence says "The two persons will not be used
to undermine the Libyan regime."
However, prosecutors say that sentence does not limit
their ability to pursue any evidence that may exist in
the case.
Hans Corell, the Chief U-N Legal Counsel, says all
points made in the letter were agreed to by the
parties to the case - Britain, Libya and the United
States.
///Corell act///
This information was elaborated by the
governments involved. The only role the
Secretary-General has here was to convey this
information, in this case, to the Libyan
authorities. The Secretary-General was not
involved in any way in the formulation of the
messages that came from the capitals.
///end act///
The letter was released by Britain and the United
States with the concurrence of Secretary-General
Annan.
There has been increasing pressure in both Britain and
the United States for release of the letter and
recently the defense lawyers for the Libyan suspects
joined in requesting its release. The trial began last
May.
The case involves the bombing of Pan Am Airways flight
103 which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland in
December of 1988, killing all 270 people
aboard.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/PT
25-Aug-2000 17:23 PM EDT (25-Aug-2000 2123 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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