Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora on Sunday warned the government of “trouble” if it fails to provide its annual share of funding to the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).
“There are some [parties] who want the Lebanese state to not fulfill [its commitments to the STL]…and this is a risk that drags the country into trouble,” Siniora said according to a statement issued by his office.
In a reference to the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition, he added that “a certain group is ordering the Lebanese government to not cooperate” with the STL.
“We must take into account Lebanon’s interests and not jeopardize its economy,” Siniora said, in a reference to warnings that the country will be sanctioned by the UN Security Council if the government does not cooperate with the tribunal.
He also called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati to articulate a clear position vis-à-vis the STL.
Commenting on Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun’s calls to “penalize corrupt state employees” – who are mainly close to the Future Movement – Siniora said that “Aoun is accusing [people] without backing himself with any proof.”
“We were and still are keen on following the path of reform…and part of the projects [submitted by our bloc] were not ratified in parliament throughout the years.”
Aoun has repeatedly campaigned against the Internal Security Forces and its Information Branch, which arrested Brigadier General Fayez Karam - a member of Aoun’s FPM - in August 2010 after suspecting him of collaborating with Israel.
Karam was later sentenced to two years in prison for leaking information to Israel.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah and other Syrian-backed March 8 parties and figures have spoken out against Lebanon’s ties and funding for the STL, which indicted four Hezbollah members for the 2005 murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
-NOW Lebanon
“There are some [parties] who want the Lebanese state to not fulfill [its commitments to the STL]…and this is a risk that drags the country into trouble,” Siniora said according to a statement issued by his office.
In a reference to the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition, he added that “a certain group is ordering the Lebanese government to not cooperate” with the STL.
“We must take into account Lebanon’s interests and not jeopardize its economy,” Siniora said, in a reference to warnings that the country will be sanctioned by the UN Security Council if the government does not cooperate with the tribunal.
He also called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati to articulate a clear position vis-à-vis the STL.
Commenting on Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun’s calls to “penalize corrupt state employees” – who are mainly close to the Future Movement – Siniora said that “Aoun is accusing [people] without backing himself with any proof.”
“We were and still are keen on following the path of reform…and part of the projects [submitted by our bloc] were not ratified in parliament throughout the years.”
Aoun has repeatedly campaigned against the Internal Security Forces and its Information Branch, which arrested Brigadier General Fayez Karam - a member of Aoun’s FPM - in August 2010 after suspecting him of collaborating with Israel.
Karam was later sentenced to two years in prison for leaking information to Israel.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah and other Syrian-backed March 8 parties and figures have spoken out against Lebanon’s ties and funding for the STL, which indicted four Hezbollah members for the 2005 murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
-NOW Lebanon
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