DATE=3/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228472
TITLE=UN/LIBYAN SANCTIONS (S&L)
BYLINE=JOE CHAPMAN
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES TOLD THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY 
(FRIDAY) THAT SANCTIONS MUST REMAIN IN EFFECT AGAINST LIBYA UNTIL
LIBYA SURRENDERS TWO SUSPECTS IN THE MID-AIR BOMBING OF PAN AM 
FLIGHT 103 OVER SCOTLAND IN 1988.  VOA'S JOE CHAPMAN HAS THIS 
REPORT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.  

TEXT:  LIBYA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, OMAR MUSTAFA MONTASSIR, TOLD THE
SECURITY COUNCIL THAT SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED ON HIS COUNTRY IN 
1992 BASED ON NOTHING MORE THAN SUSPICION THAT TWO LIBYANS WERE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMBING OF PAN AM  FLIGHT 103.  THE LIBYAN 
OFFICIAL SUGGESTED THERE IS LITTLE VALID EVIDENCE AGAINST THE TWO
MEN.

BUT U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL THE 
SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED FOUR YEARS AFTER THE CRASH ON THE BASIS OF
WHAT HE TERMED "COMPELLING EVIDENCE" THAT LIBYAN INTELLIGENCE 
OPERATIVES PLACED THE BOMB. TWO-HUNDRED-SEVENTY PEOPLE DIED IN 
THE CRASH, INCLUDING 11 ON THE GROUND IN LOCKERBIE SCOTLAND. 

MR. RICHARDSON TOLD REPORTERS THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT ACCEPT A
LIFTING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S SANCTIONS UNTIL LIBYA TURNS 
OVER THE TWO SUSPECTS FOR A FAIR TRIAL.  

                         /// REST OPT///

NINE OF THE 15 SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE 
LIFTING THE SANCTIONS AND, EVEN THEN, THE UNITED STATES OR 
BRITAIN WOULD BE CERTAIN TO VETO THE ACTION. 

MEMBERS OF A GROUP REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED IN  
THE BOMBING OF THE PAN AM JUMBO JET, APPEARED WITH MR. RICHARDSON
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE. THEY THEN OBSERVED THE SECURITY COUNCIL 
DEBATE. DAN COHEN,  WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH, SAID 
THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE OF LIBYAN INVOLVEMENT IN MASS MURDER. 

                         ///COHEN ACT///

         IT IS LIBYA ITSELF, THE RULING CLIQUE OF LIBYA ITSELF, 
         THAT IS THE CRIMINAL, THAT IS THE KILLER, THAT IS THE 
         MURDERER. ANYBODY WHO SAYS THERE ISN'T ANY EVIDENCE IN 
         THIS CASE IS JUST IGNORING IT. THERE IS A MOUNTAIN OF 
         EVIDENCE OUT THERE. SOME OF IT EVEN APPEARED IN A CIVIL 
         TRIAL IN THE UNITED STATES. THERE IS A TON OF EVIDENCE 
         OUT THERE. 

                          ///END ACT///

AMBASSADOR RICHARDSON TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL A RECENT WORLD 
COURT DECISION IN FAVOR OF LIBYA INVOLVED ONLY PROCEDURAL ISSUES,
NOT THE SUBSTANCE OR LEGAL MERITS OF THE CASE AGAINST THE TWO 
LIBYANS ACCUSED IN THE BOMBING. 

MR. RICHARDSON SAYS THE SANCTIONS ARE CAREFULLY TARGETED AGAINST 
WHAT HE SAYS IS LIBYAN INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND
ARE NOT CAUSING ECONOMIC SUFFERING IN LIBYA.  LIBYA HAS STRONG 
SUPPORT FROM AFRICAN AND ARAB NATIONS.  CHINA AND RUSSIA HAVE 
URGED MORE FLEXIBILITY, BUT DIPLOMATS SAY THE SANCTIONS WILL 
REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES AGREE TO 
LIFTING THEM.  (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/JMC/LSF





20-Mar-98 2:16 PM EST (1916 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.