Daily Star - STL head says trials likely to last 3 years, November 23rd 2011

By Dana Khraiche, Hasan Lakiss

BEIRUT: The new president of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Wednesday that the trial of suspects in the assassination of former statesman Rafik Hariri would likely take three years before verdicts are announced, Lebanese sources said.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, Judge Sir David Baragwanath, on his first official visit to Lebanon, also said that Lebanon was 11 months behind on its payment for the tribunal’s 2011 budget.

The tribunal’s 2011 budget is $65.7 million, of which Lebanon owes around $36 million.

Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1757, Lebanon has to pay 49 percent of the court’s annual budget. Contributing countries cover the remaining 51 percent.

Baragwanath said that relevant states had informed him that nothing could delay or terminate the work of the court.

According to a statement released by Mikati’s office, the two officials discussed cooperation between Lebanon and the U.N.-backed court based in The Hague.

Mikati reiterated Lebanon’s respect to international resolutions, particularly UNSCR 1757 that established the court in 2007 to try those involved in Hariri’s assassination.

“[I] hope that the work of the tribunal remains in its legal framework away from discretionary or political use, taking into account observations by some relating to the court as a whole,?? Mikati was quoted as saying during the meeting.

He added that he was looking for mechanisms to fund the tribunal within the legal deadline.

Baragwanath was quoted as saying that the basis of the tribunal was to achieve justice and hold those involved in the assassination accountable.

The STL president, who is being accompanied by vice president of the tribunal Judge Ralph Riachy, also met with President Michel Sleiman at Baabda Palace and is expected to meet with other Lebanese officials involved in the work of the tribunal.

The visit by Baragwanath, who was elected president of the STL in early October following the resignation of late Judge Antonio Cassese, comes at a time when the issue of funding for the STL is at the heart of political debate in the country.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss the issue of funding on Nov. 30.

Ministers in the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance, who have a majority in Mikati’s Cabinet, have voiced their opposition to funding for the court, which in late June indicted four members belonging to the resistance group in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

Sources told The Daily Star earlier this week that Mikati had warned he would resign should the Cabinet fail to approve the funding of Lebanon’s share toward the court.

On Nov. 11 the STL convened its first hearing to discuss the viability of in absentia trials against the four suspects.

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