STL Funding Faces March 8 Obstacles
March 8 forces are holding onto their stance refusing to pay Lebanon’s dues to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.
Sources told the daily that the funding of the STL, that is expected to be tackled by the cabinet soon, will not be approved whether it was discussed during a session or away from the media spotlight.
However, PM Najib Miqati, President Michel Suleiman and more than 10 ministers agree on committing to the international obligation, the newspaper noted.
Sources said that the government is waiting for an official request by the United Nations to carry out the issue knowing that the funding must be made by the end of September, but Speaker Nabih Berri said that Lebanon’s payment of its share is not at the end of Sept. as some expected.
Miqati told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that the funding of the STL is in everyone’s interest, he said: “I am betting on the patriotism of all sides inside the cabinet.”
“The funding and the implementation of international resolutions fall in Lebanon’s interest and I don’t think that anyone is against it,” he stressed.
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