sawsat

Libyan Aide on 'Difficulties' in Lockerbie Trial Issue

London Al-Sharq al-Awsat in Arabic 30 Jul 98 p 4
Subslug: Unattributed report: "Libyan Official Confirms to Al-Sharq al- Awsat the Existence of Major Difficulties in Lockerbie Case; Tripoli Denies Deal With Washington Paved Way for Change in U.S. Position"

Cairo, Al-Sharq al-Awsat -- A high-placed Libyan official has announced that numerous legal and political difficulties are obstructing the issue of conducting the trial of the two Libyan nationals (accused by both the United States and Britain of involvement in the Lockerbie incident) in the Netherlands.

The official, who is close to Libyan leader Colonel Mu'ammar al- Qadhdhafi, told Al-Sharq al-Awsat that the recent official signals and press reports emanating from the Western parties concerned with the crisis are still shrouded in ambiguity and require time to crystallize into a clear position. The official said that the change in the British and U.S. positions has been both surprising and confusing at the same time, especially as London and Washington have in the past objected to any idea of the two Libyan suspects standing trial in a third country or under a law that is not applied by British and U.S. courts.

The official went on to say that "the Libyan leadership is busy studying these developments seriously." The official expects Col. al-Qadhdhafi to announce his position on these developments through a statement to be carried by the Libyan media next week.

The official, who asked to remain anonymous, denied that a secret deal or contacts between Tripoli and the U.S. Administration paved the way for the change in the U.S. position on the crisis, which resulted in an air blockade being imposed on Libya. The official also denied what has been reported by some Libyan opposition and Western circles regarding the assassination of former Libyan foreign minister Ibrahim al-Bishari, stressing that he was killed in a tragic and regrettable car accident. It is worth noting that al-Bishari was in charge of the Libyan intelligence service during the period that witnessed the deterioration in Libyan-Western and Libyan-U.S. relations right up to the Lockerbie incident.

After that, al-Bishari held the post of general coordinator of Egyptian-Libyan relations in addition to his post as Libya's permanent representative to the Arab League 1993-1996 before moving to the post of assistant general secretary for African affairs at the International Cooperation and Foreign Liaison Secretariat (ministry), currently headed by 'Umar al-Muntasir.

The Libyan official told Al-Sharq al-Awsat that al-Bishari was one of the most important men of the tent (a phrase referring to the close circle around al-Qadhdhafi); he was also loyal to the revolution and its leadership.

The official went on to say: "It is regrettable that such false rumors about him should be circulated now." The official revealed that the stage ahead will witness extensive contacts between Libya and a number of Arab and African parties within the framework of the continuing consultation over the issue of guaranteeing a fair and impartial trial for the two Libyan suspects. The official added that "contacts are currently being made with officials in the Netherlands which we hope will result in persuading them to allow the two Libyans to stand trial on Netherlands territory." However, the official pointed to the existence of difficulties because the law applied in the Netherlands does not allow the citizens of a foreign country to stand trial under the law of a third country, as that requires the presence of a special judiciary during the trial.

The source pointed out that Libya is interested in the safety of its two citizens and in ensuring that they are not exposed to any harm during the stages of the trial and until the final verdict is issued. The official said: "We have numerous questions that require accurate answers before [Libya] can respond to the U.S. and British positions that have suddenly surfaced."

Meanwhile Al-Sharq al-Awsat has learned that 'Abd-al-'Ati al- 'Ubaydi, official in charge of the European Department at the Foreign Liaison Secretariat (ministry) in Libya and also tasked with following up the issue of Tripoli's relations with the French and British Governments, will pay a private visit to Cairo after the four-day visit that Arab League Secretary General Dr. 'Ismat 'Abd-al- Majid will make to Libya next Sunday.

From Libya News List