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DATE=2/17/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245653 TITLE=U-N / LIBYA LETTER (L - ONLY) BYLINE=MAX RUSTON DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SENT A LETTER TO LIBYA TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AIMED AT SECURING AN AGREEMENT FOR THE TRIAL OF TWO SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF A U-S AIRLINER OVER SCOTLAND. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR UNITED NATION BUREAU. TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE LETTER CONTAINS CLARIFICATIONS CONCERNING AN AGREEMENT TENTATIVELY REACHED WITH LIBYA LAST YEAR. UNDER THE AGREEMENT, LIBYA IS TO HAND OVER TWO SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF PAN AMERICAN FLIGHT 103 OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND. 270 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE BOMBING. THE SUSPECTS WOULD BE TRIED IN A SCOTTISH COURT IN THE NETHERLANDS AND, IF FOUND GUILTY, SERVE THEIR SENTENCES IN SCOTLAND. THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO LIFT SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON LIBYA IN 1992 ONCE THE TWO MEN HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER FOR TRIAL. U-N OFFICIALS SAY MR. ANNAN PRESENTED A LETTER WITH CLARIFICATIONS CONCERNING THE AGREEMENT TO LIBYA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS. THEY SAY IT IS NOW UP TO LIBYA TO RESPOND BY SAYING WHEN IT WILL TRANSFER THE TWO MEN TO THE NETHERLANDS. FINAL AGREEMENT ON THE TRANSFER OF THE TWO MEN HAS BEEN HELD UP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BY A DISAGREEMENT OVER WHERE THEY WOULD SERVE THEIR SENTENCES, IF FOUND GUILTY. BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE SAID ANY SENTENCES MUST BE SERVED IN SCOTLAND. LIBYA HAS OPPOSED THAT REQUIREMENT. BUT DIPLOMATS SAY LIBYA RECENTLY DROPPED ITS OPPOSITION FOLLOWING ASSURANCES THAT THE TWO MEN, IF IMPRISONED IN SCOTLAND, WOULD NOT FACE INTERROGATION. DIPLOMATS SAY THE UNITED NATIONS HAS ALSO ASSURED LIBYA THAT THE TRIAL WILL FOCUS ON THE GUILT OR INNOCENCE OF THE TWO SUSPECTS AND NOT BE USED AS A TOOL AGAINST THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG LIBYA WILL TAKE BEFORE RESPONDING TO MR. ANNAN'S LETTER. U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THEY WILL PRESS FOR FURTHER SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IF THE LOCKERBIE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT 17-Feb-99 4:33 PM EST (2133 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .