British Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt urged the Lebanese cabinet to respect the country’s international commitments, including the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which is probing former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination.
“It is vitally important that the new government respects Lebanon’s international commitments including the STL, which is working to end to impunity for political assassinations in that country,” Burt said, according to a statement issued by the British Embassy in Lebanon.
He also said that he is pleased that the new government has been formed, voicing hope that the cabinet will “promote coexistence and dialogue and work to ensure the stability, unity and security of the country.”
“I hope that all Lebanon’s neighbors, as well as the rest of the international community, will work in support of that stability,” he added.
The Lebanese government won a parliamentary vote of confidence last Thursday, as Prime Minister Najib Mikati vowed that his cabinet would cooperate with the STL that charged Hezbollah members in Rafik Hariri’s murder.
However, Hezbollah ruled out the arrests of his party members and declined cooperation with the tribunal.
-NOW Lebanon
No comments:
Post a Comment