tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073021351804532798.post131495226442883957..comments2024-03-15T06:02:30.623+00:00Comments on The Lockerbie Case: Hague snubs US inquiry into Megrahi releaseRobert Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03606456028430261555noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073021351804532798.post-24674913557990063052010-09-13T18:23:04.350+01:002010-09-13T18:23:04.350+01:00Scotland appears to be invoking a bit of a double ...Scotland appears to be invoking a bit of a double standard on this issue of extraterritoriality.<br /><br />When the indictments against Megrahi and Fhima were brought down Libya had no extradiction treaty with either America or the UK. The accusing countries gave no evidence to Libya (which any country is reasonably entitled to receive when an extradiction request is made) whereby Libya might reasonably consider an extradiction request.<br /><br />America, the UK and Libya were all signatories to the 1976 Montreal Convention, a treaty that set out how the countries that were parties to the Agreement would cooperate in air disaster type situations. Libya correctly suggested the parties follow the Montreal Convention, but America and the UK refused.<br /><br />The UK and therefore Scotland had no problem using extraterritoriality to force UN sanctions on Libya and force it to give it's citizens up for trial. Now when America tries similar tactics on Scotland to get answers to why Megrahi was released, Scotland claims sovereignty.<br /><br />So the double standard is that Scotland supported extraterritoriality when it was in its interest to do so to get Megrahi and Fhima to trial, but now cries foul with regard to America's current tactics towards it.<br /><br />All countries should insist that every country follow international law, particularly when one of the "big boys" tries to beat up on a "smaller boy". In Libya's case with respect to Lockerbie it got very little international support, and this was all presumably justified because Libya had a "bad boy".<br /><br />Of course if the international community at large condones actions involving extraterritoriality, then individual members of such community open the door to the same thing negatively affecting them in the future. Their sovereignty is at stake.<br /><br />No wonder Libya has cried foul and complained it has been treated like a second class citizen of the world community - it has been treated like one.<br /><br />Luckily for Scotland America has stated this issue won't generally affect relations between the two countries.FullInquiryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514207445854892890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1073021351804532798.post-85745279667802281612010-09-12T13:18:49.218+01:002010-09-12T13:18:49.218+01:00It would be more constructive if the new Governmen...It would be more constructive if the new Government went the same road as the Scottish Government and reminded the Americans that this is none of their business. If Hague cites "extraterritoriality" for refusing to participate he can't then ignore those concerns by partly co-operating with a foreign government in this way.Jo Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08536467440869239587noreply@blogger.com