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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 .