DATE=8/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237589
TITLE=U-S / LOCKERBIE (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE AGREED TO SET UP A 
SCOTTISH COURT IN THE NETHERLANDS TO TRY TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS 
WANTED IN THE TERRORIST BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER 
SCOTLAND 10 YEARS AGO.  CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS SOME 
RELATIVES OF THE 259 PEOPLE KILLED ON THE FLIGHT ARE  NOT  HAPPY 
ABOUT THE DECISION.  

TEXT:  IN SIMULTANEOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS IN WASHINGTON AND LONDON, 
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN DROPPED LONG-STANDING DEMANDS THAT 
THE TWO LIBYANS FACE TRIAL IN EITHER COUNTRY.  INSTEAD, BOTH 
GOVERNMENTS ARE MOVING AHEAD WITH A PLAN FOR SCOTTISH JUDGES TO 
HEAR THE CASE IN THE HAGUE, ADMITTING THAT YEARS OF U-N SANCTIONS
HAVE FAILED TO GET LIBYA TO HAND THE SUSPECTS OVER FOR JUSTICE IN
EITHER COUNTRY.   

IN ANNOUNCING THE CHANGE, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT 
NOTED LIBYA'S CONCERNS THAT THE SUSPECTS WOULD  NOT RECEIVE A 
FAIR TRIAL IN THE UNITED STATES OR BRITAIN HAVE HOW BEEN 
ADDRESSED.  

                       // ALBRIGHT ACT //

         WE NOTE THAT LIBYA HAS REPEATEDLY STATED ITS READINESS 
         TO DELIVER THE SUSPECTS FOR TRIAL BY A SCOTTISH COURT 
         SITTING IN A THIRD COUNTRY.  THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN 
         ENDORSED BY THE ARAB LEAGUE, THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN
         UNITY, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE AND 
         THE NON ALIGNED MOVEMENT. WE NOW CHALLENGE LIBYA TO TURN
         PROMISES INTO DEEDS.  THE SUSPECTS SHOULD BE SURRENDERED
         FOR TRIAL PROMPTLY. 

                         // END ACT // 

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN CALL IT A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT DEAL,
ONE THAT IS  NOT  UP FOR NEGOTIATION BUT ONE WHICH IS -- AS 
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT PUT IT -- INTENDED TO CALL LIBYA'S BLUFF.    

BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, SHE SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE RELATIVES OF 
THOSE KILLED ON PAN AM FLIGHT 103 WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING NEARLY A 
DECADE FOR JUSTICE.  DANIEL COHEN, WHO LOST HIS ONLY DAUGHTER IN 
THE BLAST, DENOUNCED THE PLAN AS A COMPROMISE TO TERRORISTS.  

                         // COHEN ACT //

         WHAT I'M AFRAID WE'RE DOING, DESPITE ALL OF THE TALK 
         ABOUT THIS (BEING) ABSOLUTELY NON-NEGOTIABLE, WE'VE GOT 
         AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS LOSING THE SANCTIONS WAR, 
         UNQUESTIONABLY AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THIS THING OFF 
         THE TABLE SOMEHOW AND THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE TOO MANY 
         COMPROMISES AND I'M AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO GET 
         COMPROMISED INTO GOD KNOWS WHAT.  FROM A PERSONAL POINT 
         OF VIEW, MY ONLY CHILD IS DEAD.  I'M NOT GOING TO 
         BENEFIT FROM A TRIAL, GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY, SHE'S NOT 
         COMING BACK.   THE COUNTRY IS HOWEVER, GOING TO SUFFER 
         BY HAVING SET THIS KIND OF A PRECEDENT, BY THIS KIND OF 
         COMPROMISE WITH AN UNRECONSTRUCTED TERRORIST STATE. 

                          // END ACT //

SINCE 1992, LIBYA HAS BEEN UNDER U-N IMPOSED SANCTIONS CUTTING 
AIR LINKS AND ARMS SALES TO THE COUNTRY UNTIL IT HANDS OVER THE 
TWO SUSPECTS -- SUSPECTS THE UNITED STATES SAYS HAVE CONNECTIONS 
TO LIBYAN INTELLIGENCE.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/NJS/KL

24-Aug-98 2:05 PM EDT (1805 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.