Libya hands over two Libyan suspects to Dutch authorities
Libya-International, Politics, 4/5/1999

The two Libyans accused of masterminding the 1988 Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, flew Monday from Tripoli to the Netherlands accompanied by UN Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs Hans Corell, the Egyptian news agency MENA reported.

The extradition of the two men for trial by a Scottish court in the Netherlands will open the way for the lifting of air and military sanctions, coupled with sanctions on oil equipment and the freezing of the north African country's financial assets abroad.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said Egypt has not played any direct role in the hand over of the two Libyan suspects in the Lockerbie bombing, but it will witnesses the hand over, together with the member states in the seven-fold committee affiliated to the Arab League, which includes Egypt, Syria, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania.

US State Department Spokesman James Rubin said the UN sanctions on Libya "will be immediately suspended," as soon as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan notifies the Security Council that the suspects have been handed over. He said that the sanctions would not be permanently lifted until three conditions are fulfilled: Libya must cooperate with the trial, renounce terrorism, and pay any compensation that may be required in light of the outcome of the trial. "In practical terms they will be able to go about their business," he said.

Rubin indicated, however, that unilateral sanctions imposed on Libya by the United States through executive order, some of which predate the Lockerbie incident, will remain in place.

UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said today during a press briefing that, "This is an historic moment," confirming the plane's departure for the Netherlands.

US President Bill Clinton said in a written statement, "I am gratified that the two suspects accused in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 were delivered by the United Nations to the custody of Dutch authorities," while US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright hailed the hand over as marking "an important milestone in achieving legal accountability for this outrageous crime.

Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid has called all his organization's 22 member states to lift the sanctions as soon as the two men are surrendered to the Netherlands. Abdul Meguid also insisted that the two Libyan men should have a fair trial and that Libya has the right to request compensation for the damage caused by seven years of sanctions.

The Arab League has sent observers to Libya to supervise the handing over of Al-Amine Khalifa Fhimah and Abdel Basset Al- Maghrabi.

The Arab League's observer delegation comprises assistant secretary-general, Ahmed Ben Hali, and a follow-up committee set up in 1992.

Previous Stories:
  UN personal arrive to receive Libyan suspects in 1988 explosion of Pan Am jet   (4/3/1999)
  AL welcomes UN Security Council's new decision on Libya   (3/25/1999)
  Libya notifies AL on agreement with the UN on Lockerbie   (3/22/1999)

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