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21 December 1998

TRANSCRIPT: CLINTON AT 1OTH ANNIVERSARY OF PAN AM 103 BOMBING

(Offers Libya a "take-it or leave-it offer in Pan Am case) (1590)



Arlington, Virginia -- For the past 10 years, the United States has
"never given up the search" for ways to bring to justice the two
suspects in the bombing of flight Pan Am 103, President Clinton says.


Speaking at the December 21 Arlington National Cemetery memorial
service on the bombing's 10th anniversary, Clinton said he believes
there is still "some possibility" that Lybian leader Muammar Qadhafi
will accept his offer that the suspects be tried at a neutral site.


"Our policy is not to trust Mr. Qadhafi's claims, it is to test them.
This is a take-it or leave-it offer. We will not negotiate its terms.
If the suspects are convicted, they will serve their time in
Scotland," the President said. "And if the suspects are not turned
over by the time of the next sanctions review, we will work with the
United Nations, with our allies and friends, to seek yet stronger
measures against Libya," he said.


"Like the stones of this cairn," Clinton said, "Our memories of those
we lost remain strong. And so must our determination be to complete on
their behalf the unfinished business ahead."


Following is the White House transcript:



(begin transcript)



THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary



December 21, 1998



REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

AT 1OTH ANNIVERSARY OF PAN AM 103 DISASTER



Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington, Virginia



THE PRESIDENT: Lord Munro, Sir Christopher, Chaplain, members of the
Cabinet, Senator Kennedy, and most of all, the members of the families
of Pan Am 103: I would like to begin by thanking all of you for giving
Hillary and me the chance to be here today, and with a special word of
appreciation to Jane Schultz for her efforts to bring us all together
and to keep us all remembering and acting.


Even though it is painful today to remember what happened 10 years
ago, it is necessary. Necessary to remember that the people on that
plane were students coming home for the holidays, tourists going on
vacation in America, families looking forward to a long-awaited
reunion, business people on a routine flight. Their average age was
just 27. Last week, in the annual report on the condition of the
health of the American people, the average life expectancy of
Americans has now exceeded 76. Their average age was 27.


Beneath them, the people of Lockerbie were sitting down to supper on a
quiet winter evening. And, of course, we have already heard the names
-- those of you who loved them have relived their lives in that awful
moment.


Now, for 10 years, you have cherished your memories and you have lived
with the thought, I'm sure, of what might have been. You have also,
for 10 years, been steadfast in your determination to stand against
terrorism and to demand justice. And people all around the world have
stood with you, shared your outrage, admired your fellowship with one
another and watched with awed respect your determined campaign for
justice.


Although 10 years, or 20 or 30 or 50, may never be long enough for the
sorrow to fade, we pray it will not be too long now before the wait
for justice and resolution is over.


We dedicate this day of the Winter Solstice to the memory of all who
were lost, to the families who understand its meaning as no others
can. We dedicate each day that follows -- as the sun rises higher and
brighter in the morning sky and the daylight hours lengthen -- to our
common pursuit of truth and justice, and to our common efforts to
ensure that what happened 10 years ago to those of you here will not
occur again.


I know I speak for every American citizen when I say a simple, humble,
heartfelt thank you for all you have done to keep the memory and
spirit of your loved ones alive, by the memorials you have built, the
scholarships you have funded, the charities you have supported. We
thank you for reaching out to one another, to the people of Lockerbie,
to all others who have been victims of terrorism. We thank you for
helping to strengthen the resolve of nations to defeat terror, to deny
safe haven to terrorists, to isolate those who sponsor them.


We thank you for working to improve security for air travelers, and
for all the lives your work has saved. We thank you for your
determination to see that things that are good and meaningful and
lasting come out of your overpowering tragedy. And we thank you for
not letting the world forget that it is necessary and right to pursue
the perpetrators of this crime, no matter how long it takes.


I thank you for what you have done to drive me to work harder on your
behalf, not just the imperative of fighting terror, but the passion
and commitment and conviction of the families who have spoken to me
and to the members of my administration, who all remind us this cannot
be considered a mere misfortune, this was deliberate murder. And while
all of us have to strive for reconciliation in our hearts, we must
also pursue justice and accountability.


You know better than anyone else it is beyond your power to alter the
past. There is no such thing as perfect justice. No trial or penalty
or elimination of the facts can compensate you for the profound loss
you have suffered. But as long as we can bring those responsible
before the bar of justice and have a real trial, you have a right --
and society has a need -- to see that done.


We owe this not only to you, but to all Americans who seek justice;
for this was a tragedy felt by every American and, indeed, every man
and woman of goodwill around the world. And none of us want to live in
a world where such violence goes unpunished and people can kill with
impunity. And none of us will be safe as long as there is a single
place on our planet where terrorists can find sanctuary.


That is why our nation has never given up the search for justice. For
10 years we have ensured that Libya cannot be a member of the
international community until it turns over suspects in this case.
That is why, in late August, after speaking with many of you, we put
forward the initiative which has already been referred to: try the two
suspects before a Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands.


Since then, the Libyan leader, Mr. Qadhafi, has given us mixed
signals. We believe there is still some possibility he will accept our
offer. That would be the best outcome, for it would mean that finally
there would be a trial. But let me be absolutely clear to all of you:
Our policy is not to trust Mr. Qadhafi's claims, it is to test them.
This is a take-it or leave-it offer. We will not negotiate its terms.
If the suspects are convicted, they will serve their time in Scotland.
And if the suspects are not turned over by the time of the next
sanctions review, we will work with the United Nations, with our
allies and friends, to seek yet stronger measures against Libya. In
doing so, we will count on the support of all nations that counseled
us to make this proposal in the first place. If the proposal fails,
all should make clear that the responsibility falls on Mr. Qadhafi
alone.


I make that commitment here, amidst the silent white rows and the
heroes that rest beneath, at this place of remembrance where we come
to pay tribute to those who lived bravely and often died too young for
our nation. This is a place where Americans come to gather the
strength of memory to carry on into tomorrow. It is altogether fitting
that this cairn was placed here in memory of your loved ones, for we
have a duty to them no less profound than our duty to those who are
buried here. Each stone in this monument is a memory, and each memory
a call to action.


The poet, William Blake, wrote: "To see a world in a grain of sand,
and heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour." That poem is inscribed at St. Paul's
Cathedral in London. Ten years ago it was copied down by a young
American who carried it on her final flight home -- Pan Am 103. It
reminds us of the dreams that terrible day left unfulfilled, but also
of this eternal significance of all those lives that were lived fully,
though too briefly; and of the infinite importance of each act of
charity and faith committed in their memory.


Like the stones of this cairn, our memories of those we lost remain
strong. And so must our determination be to complete on their behalf
the unfinished business ahead. To that solemn task I pledge you my
best efforts. And I ask for your continued commitment, your continued
involvement, your continued education of your fellow Americans, and
your continued loving memories acted out to benefit those you may
never know -- for you are making a safer, fairer, more just world.


God bless you all and God bless America.



(end transcript)