Libya approves US-UK intiative on Lockerbie
Libya, Politics, 8/26/1998

Libya gave approval to the offer of the United States to put the matter of the Lockerbie crisis to a trial in the Hague, Netherlands.

A statement by the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation said that the committee reviewed the joint letter dated 24 August 1998 by the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom addressed to the UN Secretary-General regarding their acceptance of the holding a trial in a neutral third country for the two suspects in the explosion of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The statement sent to ArabicNews.com said that the committee "announces its acceptance of the development in the positions of the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, which we have called for," stressing "the necessity to lift the sanctions imposed on the basis of Security Council resolutions 748 (1992) and 883 (1993)."

The statement called on the US and the UK for sincere and serious effort "in finding a solution to this problem" and hoped that the two countries were not simply forced into this position. Their sincerity and seriousness the statement said "shall be confirmed to the world through the procedures" to be adopted "if they were free of any preconditions from the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom.aimed at obstructing the trial," adding that the committee "wishes to confirm that it will deal positively with this step and will give it the attention it deserves."

Libya welcomed the US and UK initiative that is "supported by international and regional organizations" in order to find a solution "which guarantees justice to the two suspects, as well as the families of the victims."

Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel Meguid who received the US-UK proposal and passed it along to Libyan officials said that there will be "a long and difficult work until a just trial can be assured for the suspects." Meguid, referring to the US initiative, denied that there is a time limit on the US-UK initiative saying that it is not a good idea to issue statements that do not reflect well on the sincerity of the efforts needed to solve this problem.

Meanwhile, President Mubarak made a phone call to Libyan President Col. Moammar Gaddafi to discuss the Lockerbie crisis in the framework of recent stances announced by the US and Britain in this respect. President Mubarak also sent his advisor for political affairs, Osama el-Baz, to Tripoli today carrying a message to President Gaddafi.

Previous Stories:
  Arab League upbeat over US-Britain approval to try Libyans in Hague   (8/25/1998)
  US agrees to have Libyans accused of Lockerbie bombing tried   (8/24/1998)
  Arab League: Remove Libyan sanctions until guilt is established   (8/11/1998)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search