As-Safir newspaper quoted on Wednesday an unnamed ministerial source as saying that “some ministers will suggest removing the clause pertaining to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon [STL] from the draft state budget in order to prevent any delay in approving the latter.”
The same sources also expects that “the STL funding clause will be left for the final stage of the budget discussions, especially because Prime Minister Najib Mikati knows that the cabinet will not approve it.”
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, while Prime Minister Najib Mikati has repeatedly voiced Lebanon’s commitment to the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denied the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.
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