14 March 2002

White House Welcomes Scottish High Court Ruling on Pan AM 103

The United States welcomed the March 14 decision by the Scottish High Court to uphold the sentence of Abdel Al-Megrahi, a Libyan national convicted of perpetrating the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland in 1988.

In a White House statement issued March 14, the Bush Administration expressed its hope that the completion of the appeal would "spur Libya to take quick action" to comply with UN Security Council resolutions, which would facilitate the end of sanctions upon the country.

"[N]othing can undo the suffering this act of terrorism has caused. However, we hope that all of those who lost loved-ones in this tragic attack will find some solace in the measure of justice achieved by today's decision," read the statement.

Speaking in Washington March 14, White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said Libya still needed to acknowledge Libyan government responsibility for the bombing and pay reparations to the families of its victims.

The White House views the total sum of the reparations as a matter to be negotiated between Libya and the victims' families.

The Libyan authorities "are in discussions with the lawyers for the families. That's the appropriate mechanism for the determination of the level of payment to be arrived at," said Fleischer.

U.S. and British authorities have met with their Libyan counterparts as recently as January 10, 2002 in order to urge Libya's compliance with the UN Security Council requirements.

The Scottish High Court's decision comes almost fourteen years after the tragedy, which killed 270 people. The White House statement said the affirmation of Al-Megrahi's conviction "underlines the unshakable determination of the United States not to forget, but to hold terrorists accountable for their acts."

Following is the text of the March 14 White House statement:

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary March 14, 2002

Statement on Pan AM 103 Verdict Statement by the Press Secretary Pan AM 103 Verdict

The United States Government welcomes the decision of the Scottish High Court of Justiciary sitting in the Netherlands to uphold the conviction of Abdel Al-Megrahi. We reiterate the need for the Government of Libya to move quickly to satisfy its remaining obligations under UN Security Council resolutions related to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The completion of the appeal does not end UN sanctions against Libya, but should spur Libya to take quick action to fully comply with the requirements of the UN Security Council.

We again express our deepest sympathy to the families of those lost in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. As we have stated previously, nothing can undo the suffering this act of terrorism has caused. However, we hope that all of those who lost loved-ones in this tragic attack will find some solace in the measure of justice achieved by today's decision.

This decision affirming the conviction of a Libyan agent for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 represents a vindication of efforts by successive U.S. administrations. It also underlines the unshakable determination of the United States not to forget, but to hold terrorists accountable for their acts.

The President also renews his congratulations to the Scottish prosecution team and his thanks to the Dutch Government for its assistance and to the entire United States Government team who contributed to this outcome.