BEIRUT: The head of the United Nations-backed court probing the
2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri issued a robust
defense of his institution Monday, following his first trip to Lebanon last
week.
Special Tribunal for Lebanon President Sir David Baragwanath
said he received strong verbal support from senior Lebanese officials.
“The main purpose of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is to
bring the killers of Lebanese citizens to justice. This week’s visit to Beirut
has given me great confidence that our mandate of challenging impunity will be
fulfilled,” Baragwanath said in a statement.
“I’m convinced that the strength of the Lebanese legal and
academic communities will allow the administration of justice to attain new
heights.”
Baragwanath’s visit, during which he met with President Michel
Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, came
as the debate over Lebanon’s financial contribution to the STL threatens to
split the government.
Mikati has said he will resign if the Cabinet fails to stump up
more than $30 million for the court on Nov. 30 and the Free Patriotic Movement
has warned its ministers will quit if the funding passes.
Baragwanath, who in October replaced the former STL president,
the late Antonio Cassese, was moved to push the merits of the court, which has
been subjected to accusations of politicization since its inception in 2009.
“The tribunal, comprising professional judges selected
internationally and including senior members of the Lebanese judiciary, is a
transitional institution,” he said.
Hezbollah has accused the court of being an Israeli-U.S.
conspiracy designed to discredit the resistance. Other court opponents have
been critical of what they maintain is the tribunal’s inordinately slow
progress.
“We are determined to conclude our job as swiftly as fairness
allows,” Baragwanath said.
Lebanon is obliged under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757
to provide 49 percent of the STL’s annual running costs, something it has
failed to do in 2011. The court, the U.S. and the European Union have hinted
that international sanctions could be placed on Lebanon should its government
refuse to come up with the cash.
A court source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said
that the STL president met with Beirut-based staff during his visit. Contrary
to some reports, the source said Baragwanath’s discussions with senior
officials didn’t tackle the possibility of Security Council intervention in the
event Lebanon failed to meet its funding obligation.
“The general mood is very positive and [Baragwanath] came back
thinking he’d had a very productive time,” the source told The Daily Star. “The
issue [of funding] is really more for the [STL] registrar[Herman von Hebel],
not the president. Lebanon is already 11 months late.
“Raising any non-cooperation issue from Lebanon, on the other
hand, would be for the president. I’m not saying this is the case and to my
knowledge this didn’t come up during the visit. The visit really was more of a
meet and greet with relevant figures,” the source added.
STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare in June accused four Hezbollah
members of killing Hariri. In spite of the issuance of arrest warrants, the
suspects remain at large. The prospect of in absentia trials has been raised by
the court, although its Trial Chamber last week ruled that such action was premature.
Baragwanath said he was counting on continued cooperation from
Lebanon in order to bring Hariri’s assassins to justice.
“The support
we are receiving will allow the STL to contribute to securing the stability
that everybody, the killers aside, so earnestly desires, which will open new
opportunities for Lebanon,” the STL president added.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Nov-29/155499-stl-president-hails-first-beirut-visit-as-highly-successful.ashx#axzz1f7P2UGKW
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