French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton said on Wednesday that the new cabinet’s ministerial statement clause on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) does not meet France’s expectations.
He added that his country will judge the cabinet according to its response to the UN-backed STL’s arrest warrants, the National News Agency quoted him as saying after meeting Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi.
“When it comes to France or the European Union, we are keen on continuing cooperation with Lebanon and the new cabinet.”
The STL indicted four members of the Iranian-and Syrian-backed Hezbollah in connection to the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri, but the party’s secretary general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, ruled out their arrest.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s cabinet, which was formed on June 13, was granted parliament’s vote of confidence last week, as the PM vowed his cabinet would cooperate with the STL.
However, Mikati's program includes an ambiguously worded clause stipulating that Lebanon will "respect" international resolutions as long as they do not threaten peace and stability.
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