DATE=4/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247643
TITLE=BRITAIN / LOCKERBIE (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BRITAIN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS WELCOMED NEWS THAT TWO 
LIBYANS SUSPECTED OF THE 1988 BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINER 
HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO THE UNITED NATIONS.  THEY WILL STAND 
TRIAL IN A SCOTTISH COURT SET UP IN THE NETHERLANDS.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS THE HANDOVER WILL 
OPEN THE WAY FOR ENDING U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA.

TEXT:  FOREIGN SECRETARY COOK TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE THE HANDOVER
OF THE LIBYAN SUSPECTS ENDS TEN YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC AND LEGAL 
WRANGLING OVER WHEN AND HOW THE LOCKERBIE TRIAL WOULD BE 
CONDUCTED. 

                         /// COOK ACT //

         IT CREATES LEGAL HISTORY.  THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT 
         ANY COUNTRY HAS ATTEMPTED TO CARRY OUT A TRIAL UNDER ITS
         LAWS AND PROCEDURES IN A THIRD COUNTRY.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

THE TWO LIBYANS ARE ACCUSED OF PLANTING THE BOMB THAT BLEW UP AN 
AMERICAN JUMBO JET OVER THE SCOTTISH TOWN OF LOCKERBIE.  
TWO-HUNDRED-70 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. 

THE TRANSFER OF THE SUSPECTS OPENS THE WAY FOR ENDING U-N 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED IN 1992 AFTER LIBYA REFUSED TO 
COOPERATE WITH THE LOCKERBIE INVESTIGATION.

                     ///  COOK ACT TWO  ///

         SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED ON LIBYA NOT BECAUSE OF THE 
         BOMBING BUT BECAUSE OF THE REFUSAL TO HAND OVER THE TWO 
         SUSPECTS.  ONCE THEY HAND OVER THE TWO SUSPECTS, IT IS 
         LOGICAL TO SUSPEND SANCTIONS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. COOK SAYS U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANAN HAS THREE MONTHS TO
REPORT ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE U-N SANCTIONS RESOLUTION, WHICH 
INCLUDE LIBYA'S RENUNCIATION OF TERRORISM AND COMPENSATION FOR 
RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS IF THE TWO SUSPECTS ARE FOUND GUILTY.

///  OPT  ///   THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY SAYS SOUTH AFRICAN 
PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AS WELL AS SAUDI AND OTHER ARAB 
DIPLOMATS HELPED PERSUADE LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI THAT THE 
SUSPECTS WOULD GET A FAIR TRIAL IN A SCOTTISH COURT.   ///  END 
OPT  ///

JIM SWIRE, WHOSE ELDEST DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN THE BOMBING,  
EARLIER TOLD V-O-A NEWS THE TRIAL IS IMPORTANT FOR RELATIVES OF 
THE VICTIMS WHO NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY.

                       ///  SWIRE ACT  ///

         IT'S A UNIVERSAL NEED PEOPLE HAVE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE 
         THIS HAPPENS.  THEY NEED TO KNOW IN MINUTE DETAIL WHAT 
         HAPPENED AND WHY.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. SWIRE -- THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE FAMILIES OF BRITISH VICTIMS --
SAYS  HE AND OTHER RELATIVES WILL FOLLOW THE TRIAL CLOSELY AT 
HOME AND IN THE SPECIAL COURTROOM IN THE NETHERLANDS.  SEVERAL  
ALSO EXPECT TO BE CALLED AS WITNESSES.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/LMK/JWH

05-Apr-99 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.