DATE=5/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249716
TITLE=MUBARAK / LIBYA (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK HAS FLOWN TO LIBYA FOR A
BRIEF VISIT. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS
THE UNEXPECTED TRIP FOLLOWS THE SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST
LIBYA AFTER IT HANDED OVER TWO SUSPECTS IN THE LOCKERBIE BOMBING
CASE. AND IT FOLLOWS A REPORT THAT THE BOMBING WAS ORDERED BY
THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT.
TEXT: LIBYAN RADIO SAYS PRESIDENT MUBARAK ARRIVED MONDAY IN THE
CITY OF SIRTE, IN EASTERN LIBYA, WHERE HE WAS MET BY SENIOR
LIBYAN OFFICIALS. THE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT IS TO MEET WITH LIBYAN
LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI BEFORE RETURNING HOME.
IT WAS PRESIDENT MUBARAK'S FIRST TRIP TO LIBYA SINCE
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS, INCLUDING A BAN ON AIR TRAVEL, WERE
SUSPENDED. THE SANCTIONS WERE SUSPENDED IN MARCH, AFTER LIBYA
HANDED OVER TWO SUSPECTS ACCUSED OF BOMBING AN AMERICAN PLANE
OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, KILLING 270 PEOPLE.
THE SUSPECTS, EMPLOYEES OF THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT AND AIRLINES,
ARE IN CUSTODY IN THE NETHERLANDS AWAITING TRIAL.
LIBYA HAS DENIED A REPORT IN BRITAIN'S SUNDAY TIMES NEWSPAPER
QUOTING BRITISH INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AS SAYING THEY HAVE EVIDENCE
THAT COLONEL GADHAFI PERSONALLY ORDERED THE LOCKERBIE BOMBING.
A STATEMENT BY THE LIBYAN NEWS AGENCY (MONDAY) CALLED THE
REPORT A PACK OF LIES. IT SAID THE REPORT WAS A DELIBERATE
ATTEMPT TO POLITICIZE THE LOCKERBIE CASE AND BLOCK WHAT WAS
TERMED A NEW PHASE IN RELATIONS BETWEEN LIBYA AND BRITAIN.
THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT FOR MONTHS RESISTED SURRENDERING THE
SUSPECTS, SAYING IT WANTED ASSURANCES ON CERTAIN ISSUES. ONE OF
THESE REPORTEDLY WAS THAT PROSECUTORS WOULD NOT SEEK TO BROADEN
THE LOCKERBIE CASE TO INCLUDE THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT.
COLONEL GADHAFI AGREED TO THE HAND-OVER AFTER MEDIATION BY SAUDI
AND SOUTH AFRICAN LEADERS AND MONTHS OF EGYPTIAN DIPLOMACY.
TIES BETWEEN EGYPT AND LIBYA ARE CLOSE, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE
ONE-HALF-MILLION EGYPTIANS WHO WORK IN LIBYA. COLONEL GADHAFI
PAID A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO EGYPT LAST MARCH, DURING WHICH A NUMBER
OF COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED IN TRANSPORTATION,
PETROLEUM AND AGRICULTURE.
PRESIDENT MUBARAK MADE A BRIEF TRIP TO LIBYA LAST YEAR AFTER
COLONEL GADHAFI WAS INJURED, REPORTEDLY WHILE EXERCISING.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
24-May-99 9:34 AM EDT (1334 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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