U.S.: No Idea about Saudi-Syrian Deal over Tribunal, Court to Continue Operations Despite Hizbullah Threats
A high-ranking U.S. official has denied that Washington was informed about a Saudi-Syrian deal over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and stressed the court will continue to operate despite Hizbullah's threats.
"Saudi officials have told us that they were absolutely committed to building a positive relationship between Lebanon and Syria based on mutual respect and non-interference of any side in the other party's internal affairs," the official told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published Thursday.
"If media reports about a deal were true, then this is blackmail," he said.
"The court is Lebanon's best hope to garner international support to put the tragic and bloody history of political violence behind it," the official told al-Hayat.
He reiterated that the tribunal is "an international body that cannot be cancelled and can't be subjected to political compromises."
"It is absurd to believe rumors over an alleged compromise over the court," the official said.
He accused Hizbullah of seeking to give Lebanon the choice of justice or stability. "None of us wants to see destabilization in Lebanon."
"Everyone is keen on seeing the Lebanese people witness stability, security and justice too," he stressed.
The official expressed support for Premier Saad Hariri and said "the court will continue to operate despite Hizbullah's threats."
When asked about Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks on the tribunal, the official said: "This stance is coming from Iran, the state that violates international resolutions and does not behave like a responsible (U.N.) member."
"But Lebanon is a member of the Security Council and we expect from it to commit to international" resolutions, he said.
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