DATE=8/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237583
TITLE=BRITAIN / LOCKERBIE (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN 
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AFTER MONTHS OF CONSULTATIONS, THE U-S AND BRITISH 
GOVERNMENTS SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO LET TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS IN 
THE LOCKERBIE CASE BE TRIED IN THE HAGUE -- A NEUTRAL LOCATION --
BUT UNDER SCOTTISH LAW.  BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK AND
U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT 
SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAPITALS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT
LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON ON THE BRITISH POINT OF VIEW.

TEXT:  BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK SAYS BRITAIN HAS ASKED THE 
U-N SECRETARY GENERAL TO PASS THE PROPOSAL TO LIBYA.  NOW, HE 
SAYS, IT IS UP TO LIBYA TO AGREE TO WHAT LIBYA ITSELF HAS ALREADY
PROPOSED.

                       ///  COOK ACT  ///

         THE TWO ACCUSED WILL OBTAIN A FAIR TRIAL IN A SCOTTISH 
         COURT.  AND THE EVIDENCE WILL BE PROPERLY WEIGHED UNDER 
         SCOTTISH PROCEDURES.  IF THEY ARE INNOCENT, THEY HAVE  
         NOTHING  TO FEAR FROM SCOTTISH JUSTICE.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. COOK SAYS IT IS UP TO LIBYA TO TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.  

                   ///  OPT  //  COOK ACT  ///

         WE ARE WELL AWARE OF WHAT THE LIBYANS HAVE SAID IN 
         PUBLIC AND TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AND WE ARE ALSO 
         AWARE OF WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SAID AS 
         INTERMEDIARIES ON BEHALF OF LIBYA.  WE NOW EXPECT LIBYA 
         TO HONOR THOSE UNDERTAKINGS AND WE LOOK FOR SUPPORT FROM
         THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE CONVEYED TO US THE VIEW OF 
         LIBYA NOW TO HOLD LIBYA TO THOSE VIEWS.

                      ///  END OPT ACT  ///

THE TWO LIBYANS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THE 1988 BOMBING OF AN 
AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, WHICH KILLED 259 
PEOPLE. 

SCOTLAND'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, ANDREW HARDIE, SAYS HE IS SATISFIED 
WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS TO HOLD THE TRIAL IN THE HAGUE AS LONG AS 
IT IS PRESIDED OVER BY THREE SCOTTISH JUDGES.   ON THE TIMING OF 
THE TRIAL, THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR SAYS IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHEN LIBYA
HANDS OVER THE SUSPECTS.

                      ///  HARDIE ACT  ///

         FROM THAT DATE OF FULL COMMITTAL WE HAVE 110 DAYS ONLY 
         TO COMMENCE THE TRIAL.  IT MAY BE OF COURSE THAT THE 
         DEFENSE WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTENSION.  THAT WOULD BE A 
         MATTER FOR THE COURT.  BUT ON THAT TIME SCALE WE WOULD 
         BE LOOKING FOR A TRIAL SOMETIME ABOUT MAY.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. HARDIE SAYS A SCOTTISH TRIAL IN THE HAGUE WOULD ADHERE TO 
SCOTTISH LEGAL PROCEDURES.  THE SUSPECTS WOULD BE HELD IN CUSTODY
IN A SCOTTISH FACILITY IN THE HAGUE AND COULD EXPECT TO SERVE 
TIME IN SCOTTISH JAILS, IF CONVICTED.

FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK HOLDS OUT THE PROSPECT OF AN END TO 
SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IF LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADAHFI HANDS 
OVER THE SUSPECTS.

                       ///  COOK ACT  ///

         COLONEL GADAHFI AND THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA HAVE MADE IT
         PLAIN THEY WANT TO SEE THOSE SANCTIONS REMOVED.  IF 
         THOSE STATEMENTS ARE MADE IN GOOD FAITH, THEN THERE IS 
         NOW ONE VERY CLEAR WAY IN WHICH TO COMPLY WITH THAT. AND
         THAT IS TO SURRENDER THE TWO SUSPECTS FOR TRIAL IN THE 
         VERY TERMS THAT LIBYA ITSELF HAS SOUGHT.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

THE TWO LIBYANS ARE ACCUSED OF PLANTING THE SUITCASE BOMB THAT 
BLEW UP AN AMERICAN JUMBO JET OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND NEARLY TEN
YEARS AGO.  THE UNITED NATIONS IMPOSED SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IN
1992 AFTER COLONEL GADAHFI REFUSED TO HAND OVER THE TWO MEN.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/JWH/KL

24-Aug-98 12:58 PM EDT (1658 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.