On 13 January 1999, the UK Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, visited Camp Zeist in the Netherlands which is to be used for the trial of the two Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing. The former US airbase currently used by the Dutch, will technically become part of Scotland for the purposes of the trial, which will be held according to Scots Criminal Law. Negotiations are continuing with the Libyan authorities who have expressed reservations about the men serving their prison sentences, if convicted, in a Scottish jail. One of the concerns is that they might be subject to UK and US intelligence’ interrogations whilst in the prison. However, Mr Cook said that standards in Scottish prisons were as good as any in the world and Libyan and international bodies would be able to monitor the men’s conditions. As soon as the men arrive in the Netherlands, the sanctions against Libya would be lifted. On 13 January, JANA, the Libyan news agency reported a “major headway” in the negotiations.
