Libya letter: Full text

The transcript of a letter sent to the UN Security Council from Libyan UN envoy Ahmed Own, accepting responsibility for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing:

H.E. Dr Mikhail Wehbe
President of the Security Council
Excellency

1. I am pleased to inform you that the remaining issues relating to fulfilment of all Security Council resolutions resulting from the Lockerbie incident have been resolved. I am also pleased to inform you that my country is confident that Representatives of the United Kingdom and of the United States of America will be confirming this development to you and to members of the Council as well.

2. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has sought to cooperate in good faith throughout the past years to bring about a solution to this matter.

3. In this context, and out of respect for international law and pursuant to the Security Council resolutions, Libya as a sovereign state:

• has facilitated the bringing to justice of the two suspects charged with the bombing of Pan Am 103, and accepts responsibility for the actions of its officials;

• has cooperated with the Scottish investigating authorities before and during the trial and pledges to cooperate in good faith with any further requests for information in connection with the Pan Am 103 investigation. Such cooperation would be extended in good faith through the usual channels;

• has arranged for the payment of appropriate compensation. To this end, a special fund has been established and instructions have already been issued to transmit the necessary sums to an agreed escrow account within a matter of days

4. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, which during the last two decades did, on numerous occasions, condemn all acts of terrorism in its correspondence to the General Assembly and to the Security Council, reaffirms its commitment to this policy.

The following are examples of this policy:

The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya confirms its support for UN Security Council resolution 1373 of 2001 which stipulates, according to Chapter VII of the (UN) Charter, that all states are to "refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts"; that they are to "take the necessary steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, including taking action and sharing information to provide early warning to other states"; that they are to "deny safe haven to any person who finances, plans, supports, or commits terrorist acts"; that they are to "ensure that any person who participates in the financing, planning, preparation or perpetration of terrorist acts or in supporting terrorist acts is brought to justice"; and that they are to "afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with criminal investigations or proceedings relating to the financing or support of terrorist acts, including assistance in obtaining evidence in their possession, deemed necessary for legal proceedings."

5. In this connection, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is committed to be cooperative in the international fight against terrorism. It is also committed to cooperate with efforts to bring those who are suspects to justice.

6. In addition, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya renews its support for the U.N. General Assembly's Declaration against International Terrorism as well as its support for General Assembly resolutions such as resolution 55/158 which "strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whom so ever committed."

7. The Libyan Jamahiriya continues to endorse the "Declaration on Measures to Eliminate Terrorism," annexed to General Assembly Resolution 49/60. That resolution stipulates that "all states shall refrain from organizing, instigating, assisting or participating in terrorist acts in territories of other states, or from acquiescing in or encouraging terrorist activities within their territories directed towards the commission of such acts." It also stipulates that "those responsible for acts of international terrorism must be brought to justice."