Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud, who represents the Free Patriotic Movement in the cabinet, said on Friday that the issue of Lebanon’s funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) “should be discussed within constitutional frameworks.”
“If the cabinet issues a decision to refer the STL funding issue to the parliament, we have to respect the decision,” Abboud told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5)
Abboud also said that he does not think the STL funding issue would lead to the collapse of the government.
The Hezbollah-led March 8 parties – which currently dominate Lebanon’s cabinet – have opposed a clause in the Lebanese annual state budget pertaining to the funding of the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denied the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the STL’s annual funding.
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