US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly expressed her country’s concern that a failure by Lebanon to meets its obligation to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) could lead to serious consequences, according to a statement released by the US embassy.
“The US expects Lebanon to meet all of its international obligations, including Lebanon’s obligation to cooperate with and fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” she told Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun during their meeting on Monday.
According to the statement, the two discussed the political and security situation in Lebanon and the current situation in Syria.
“Ambassador Connelly reiterated the United States’ view that it is important to ensure that events in Syria do no create instability or tension in Lebanon,” said the statement, adding that she renewed the commitment of the United States to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.
The United Nations says the Syrian regime’s campaign to clamp down on anti-regime protests has killed more than 3,000 people, most of them civilians, since mid-March.
Meanwhile, 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 UN-backed court, but Prime Minister Najib Mikati has repeatedly voiced Lebanon’s commitment to the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denied the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
“The US expects Lebanon to meet all of its international obligations, including Lebanon’s obligation to cooperate with and fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” she told Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun during their meeting on Monday.
According to the statement, the two discussed the political and security situation in Lebanon and the current situation in Syria.
“Ambassador Connelly reiterated the United States’ view that it is important to ensure that events in Syria do no create instability or tension in Lebanon,” said the statement, adding that she renewed the commitment of the United States to a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.
The United Nations says the Syrian regime’s campaign to clamp down on anti-regime protests has killed more than 3,000 people, most of them civilians, since mid-March.
Meanwhile, 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 UN-backed court, but Prime Minister Najib Mikati has repeatedly voiced Lebanon’s commitment to the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denied the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
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