July 18, 2010 - Now Lebanon - Mouallem: If STL accuses a Lebanese party it will become politicized

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem said on Sunday that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is a Lebanese affair, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. However, he added that if the tribunal accuses a certain Lebanese party—a possible reference to Hezbollah—than it would become politicized.

The STL is probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Media reports say the tribunal’s indictment will be issued before the end of 2010. There are also reports that some Hezbollah members will be named in the indictment.

“If any Syrian citizen proved to be involved in the Hariri assassination, he will be trialed in Syria and be accused of treason,” Mouallem said.

He also said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will visit Lebanon “at the right time.”

Mouallem voiced hope that the Lebanese-Syrian agreements would be put into action in the near future.

He was also quoted by New TV on Sunday as saying there will be numerous delegation visits between Lebanon and Syria in the future.

This comes as Prime Minister Saad Hariri made a visit to Damascus on Sunday with a ministerial delegation to review bilateral relations and sign agreements.