Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday quoted Prime Minister Najib Mikati as saying that he is “making efforts” to pay Lebanon’s share of funding to the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) because it serves the country’s interests.
“I am not one of those who… markets for sanctions against Lebanon, but I do not hide my worry about Lebanon’s relations with the international community if the STL funding is not provided,” Mikati reportedly said.
The daily also quoted the premier as saying that it is not up to him to decide whether the protocol signed between Lebanon and the tribunal is constitutional or not.
“The STL has been established by the UN Security Council, and the [latter] decides what to do,” he was quoted as saying.
The daily added that no understanding was reached on the issue of Lebanon’s STL funding before he was named as premier.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denies the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
Hezbollah and other March 8 parties and figures have spoken out against Lebanon’s ties and funding for the tribunal and called it a tool to incite sectarian strife in Lebanon, however, Mikati has repeatedly voiced Lebanon’s commitment to the tribunal.
Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the STL’s annual funding.
“I am not one of those who… markets for sanctions against Lebanon, but I do not hide my worry about Lebanon’s relations with the international community if the STL funding is not provided,” Mikati reportedly said.
The daily also quoted the premier as saying that it is not up to him to decide whether the protocol signed between Lebanon and the tribunal is constitutional or not.
“The STL has been established by the UN Security Council, and the [latter] decides what to do,” he was quoted as saying.
The daily added that no understanding was reached on the issue of Lebanon’s STL funding before he was named as premier.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denies the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
Hezbollah and other March 8 parties and figures have spoken out against Lebanon’s ties and funding for the tribunal and called it a tool to incite sectarian strife in Lebanon, however, Mikati has repeatedly voiced Lebanon’s commitment to the tribunal.
Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the STL’s annual funding.
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