During his meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Speaker Nabih Berri said that “we are not against the Special Tribunal (STL), but it was formed unconstitutionally,” An-Nahar newspaper reported Wednesday.
“The Lebanese people no longer have confidence in the STL and consider it politicized,” Berri added.
According to An-Nahar, Berri stressed following his meeting with Fillon on Monday that “Saudi-Syrian rapprochement to defuse tension in Lebanon is still the stabilizer, along with France.”
Berri’s statements come in reference to the cabinet’s request to the UN to institute an international tribunal in December 2005. The March 8 alliance considers the request illegitimate as it was made in the absence of Shia ministers who had been withdrawn from cabinet at the time.
In 2007, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1757, instituting the tribunal under chapter 7 of the UN charter, bypassing thereby the need for Shia approval and presidential signature.
Tensions ran high in Lebanon after reports said that the STL will soon issue its indictment in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. There are fears that, should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the May 2008 Events – when gunmen led by Hezbollah took over half of Beirut.
“The Lebanese people no longer have confidence in the STL and consider it politicized,” Berri added.
According to An-Nahar, Berri stressed following his meeting with Fillon on Monday that “Saudi-Syrian rapprochement to defuse tension in Lebanon is still the stabilizer, along with France.”
Berri’s statements come in reference to the cabinet’s request to the UN to institute an international tribunal in December 2005. The March 8 alliance considers the request illegitimate as it was made in the absence of Shia ministers who had been withdrawn from cabinet at the time.
In 2007, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1757, instituting the tribunal under chapter 7 of the UN charter, bypassing thereby the need for Shia approval and presidential signature.
Tensions ran high in Lebanon after reports said that the STL will soon issue its indictment in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. There are fears that, should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the May 2008 Events – when gunmen led by Hezbollah took over half of Beirut.
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