Frank Lautenberg: “Today, Senator Kennedy and I join together, as we have in the past, in a ceaseless effort to provide some degree of…”

“Today, Senator Kennedy and I join together, as we have in the past, in a ceaseless effort to provide some degree of justice for the families of the victims of the terrorist attack on Pan Am 103. This flight was brought down over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. 259 people on the plane and 11 others on the ground were killed. Most of the victims were Americans, making it the most fatal terrorist atrocity in American history. Two Libyan security agents have been charged with this heinous crime. They must be held accountable before a United States or United Kingdom court. The United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions in an effort to make this happen, but for years this has brought no results. Recently, Secretary of State Albright proposed that the two suspects in the bombing of Pan Am 103 be tried in a Scottish court, under Scottish law, with a panel of Scottish judges, but physically located in the Netherlands. Libyan authorities have publicly accepted this proposal while calling for negotiations. I remain skeptical of Libya's willingness to cooperate with the international community in bringing terrorists to justice. But I also remain hopeful that the families of the victims will soon be able to end their painful wait for justice. I therefore believe we should give this potential solution an opportunity to work, while remaining determined to see the indicted terrorists brought to trial.”