May 10, 2010 - Iloubnan - The President, Vice-President and Pre-Trial Judge meet representatives of civil society

BEIRUT - The President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Judge Antonio Cassese, the Vice-President, Judge Ralph Riachy, and Pre-Trial Judge, Judge Daniel Fransen, are visiting Lebanon from 8 to 14 May 2010.

During their stay, they will take part in a colloquium, jointly organised by the Tribunal and Saint Joseph University, comparing the applicable law of the Tribunal with that of Lebanon. This colloquium will enable the Tribunal judges and Lebanese experts to have an exchange of views on three major topics: the status of victims, the rights of the accused and trials in absentia. The Tribunal judges will also take this opportunity to hold talks with representatives of Lebanese and international non-governmental organisations.

These meetings, which follow on from the visit made in February of this year, are a reflection of the Tribunal’s desire to listen to concerns expressed within Lebanon in relation to its roles and the challenges it faces. They are also intended as a means of sustaining the ongoing dialogue between the Tribunal and civil society.