Now Lebanon - If abolishing STL fosters peace, then let it be, says Jumblatt - September 17, 2010

Democratic Gathering bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt told LBCI television on Thursday that “if abolishing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) fosters peace, then why not?”

He said that he never discussed the issue with Prime Minister Saad Hariri, adding that his statement reflects his personal opinion.

However, he said that “the timing is wrong to stop [Lebanon’s] funding of the STL,” adding that “the decision [to suspend funding] should be taken unanimously by all parties.”

Lebanon is heading toward “grave danger,” Jumblatt told the TV station, emphasizing that parties must find a mechanism to resolve their disputes.

The MP also warned from a possible sedition between Sunnis and the Shia in the country before stating that disputes over the STL should be resolved between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, “especially after Nasrallah presented new evidence [on the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri] that should be taken into account.”

On August 9, the Hezbollah chief presented alleged evidence of Israeli involvement in the Rafik Hariri murder, including footage he said came from Israeli Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) monitoring the former PM and a confession from a suspected Israeli spy.

Jumblatt voiced his readiness to take part in any initiative between Hariri, Nasrallah or Speaker Nabih Berri to resolve contentious issues.

He also said that he rejected the statements of Former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

Aoun said on Tuesday that the state has fallen and that “the judiciary is burning,” while Sayyed earlier in the week stated that “[PM Saad Hariri] should take a lie detector test to prove he did not support or fund false witnesses in the STL,” investigating the murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.

-NOW Lebanon