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| Walid Jumblatt. AP |
BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt expressed confidence that Hezbollah could mount a capable defense for four of its members indicted in the assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri and reiterated his support for funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).
“I don’t think Hezbollah lacks the ability to get lawyers or that it needs someone to defend itself, I even think that Hezbollah can argue with the tribunal to prove the innocence [of its members],” Jumblatt said in an interview with As-Safir newspaper that was published Saturday.
Jumblatt added that a viable defense was possible, “especially given that [Secretary-General] Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah presented evidence of high value.”
Hezbollah has on several occasions presented what it says is strong evidence implicating Israel in the assassination of Hariri.
Jumblatt, who was one of the leading figures of the March 14 coalition following the assassination of Hariri but later re-positioned himself with the March 8 alliance, has said that he aims to remain a centrist alongside President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati while being part of a wide alliance within the March 8 alliance.
In his interview with As-Safir, Jumblatt also reiterated his support for funding of the U.N-backed court, echoing recent statements by Mikati, who has expressed a commitment to pay Lebanon’s share to the STL, “if it remains in the country’s interest.”
Mikati has also said that Lebanon cannot afford to abandon its international responsibilities, which would place the country in confrontation with the international community.
Jumblatt, in the interview, agreed with Mikati that cutting the funding of the tribunal would place Lebanon in confrontation with the international community, adding that Lebanon cannot afford to face any sanctions.
“I fear that if Lebanon fails to fund the tribunal, then we will have to face sanction that we cannot handle. I think it is necessary to ensure the funding and then let the court take its course for years,” Jumblatt said.
Lebanon has not yet paid the 49 percent share of the court’s funding for 2011, amounting to $65 million, which it is obliged to pay under the U.N. Security Council resolution which established the court to probe the 2005 assassination of five-time Prime Minister Hariri.
“I support financing the tribunal especially that there is a segment of Lebanese who believe in this tribunal and who place great hope on its ability to reveal the truth of who assassinated Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and others,” the PSP leader said.
Financing the tribunal, which indicted four Hezbollah members in late June, has been a disputed issue between rival political parties.
The March 8 alliance, led by Hezbollah, has voiced skepticism regarding the tribunal, accusing it of being politicized and biased, and has urged the Cabinet to halt funding and withdraw Lebanese judges working with the court. The rival March 14 coalition, led by Hariri’s son, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, has insisted that the government meet its international obligations, particularly toward the STL and the court’s funding.
Hezbollah, which has repeatedly denied involvement the assassination of Rafik Hariri, regards the four indicted suspects - Mustafa Badreddine, Salim al-Ayyash, Hasan Aineysseh and Asad Sabra – as honorable members of the resistance who had fought valiantly against Israel.
“I don’t think Hezbollah lacks the ability to get lawyers or that it needs someone to defend itself, I even think that Hezbollah can argue with the tribunal to prove the innocence [of its members],” Jumblatt said in an interview with As-Safir newspaper that was published Saturday.
Jumblatt added that a viable defense was possible, “especially given that [Secretary-General] Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah presented evidence of high value.”
Hezbollah has on several occasions presented what it says is strong evidence implicating Israel in the assassination of Hariri.
Jumblatt, who was one of the leading figures of the March 14 coalition following the assassination of Hariri but later re-positioned himself with the March 8 alliance, has said that he aims to remain a centrist alongside President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati while being part of a wide alliance within the March 8 alliance.
In his interview with As-Safir, Jumblatt also reiterated his support for funding of the U.N-backed court, echoing recent statements by Mikati, who has expressed a commitment to pay Lebanon’s share to the STL, “if it remains in the country’s interest.”
Mikati has also said that Lebanon cannot afford to abandon its international responsibilities, which would place the country in confrontation with the international community.
Jumblatt, in the interview, agreed with Mikati that cutting the funding of the tribunal would place Lebanon in confrontation with the international community, adding that Lebanon cannot afford to face any sanctions.
“I fear that if Lebanon fails to fund the tribunal, then we will have to face sanction that we cannot handle. I think it is necessary to ensure the funding and then let the court take its course for years,” Jumblatt said.
Lebanon has not yet paid the 49 percent share of the court’s funding for 2011, amounting to $65 million, which it is obliged to pay under the U.N. Security Council resolution which established the court to probe the 2005 assassination of five-time Prime Minister Hariri.
“I support financing the tribunal especially that there is a segment of Lebanese who believe in this tribunal and who place great hope on its ability to reveal the truth of who assassinated Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and others,” the PSP leader said.
Financing the tribunal, which indicted four Hezbollah members in late June, has been a disputed issue between rival political parties.
The March 8 alliance, led by Hezbollah, has voiced skepticism regarding the tribunal, accusing it of being politicized and biased, and has urged the Cabinet to halt funding and withdraw Lebanese judges working with the court. The rival March 14 coalition, led by Hariri’s son, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, has insisted that the government meet its international obligations, particularly toward the STL and the court’s funding.
Hezbollah, which has repeatedly denied involvement the assassination of Rafik Hariri, regards the four indicted suspects - Mustafa Badreddine, Salim al-Ayyash, Hasan Aineysseh and Asad Sabra – as honorable members of the resistance who had fought valiantly against Israel.
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