The Daily Star - STL spokesman satisfied with Mikati’s payment, July 18 2012

BEIRUT: The spokesman for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Tuesday the court was satisfied with Lebanon’s payment last week of its dues, considering it to have come from the Lebanese government.

Asked whether the tribunal found it problematic that Prime Minister Najib Mikati transferred the funds – almost $33 million – without the permission of the Cabinet, Marten Youssef replied: “There’s no question that Prime Minister Mikati represents the Lebanese government. As far as we are concerned, the funding came from the Lebanese government.”

Youssef, speaking at a seminar on the tribunal for journalists in Beirut, said: “We of course have no right to ask the Lebanese prime minister or any government official ‘where did you get this money?’ ... We do not interfere.”

The seminar aims to help journalists navigate resources available to report on the court. Guido Acquaviva, the chef de cabinet at the office of the STL president, said journalists can miss newsworthy items inside judicial decisions, using as an example last year’s decision on disclosing documents to former Gen. Jamil el-Sayyed, which stated the issue of false witness is beyond the STL’s jurisdiction.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Jul-18/180972-stl-spokesman-satisfied-with-mikatis-payment.ashx#axzz20mFkUNDx