Report: Suleiman, Miqati Approve Funding of STL

President Michel Suleiman and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati granted Caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi an “exceptional approval” to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Thursday, the general-secretary of cabinet Secretary General Suheil Bouji handed over a memorandum to Safadi reminding him of Suleiman and Miqati's “exceptional approval.”

Premier Miqati transferred last year Lebanon's 49% share of the STL without elaborating the funding mechanism.

The $32 million were sent to the Netherlands-based STL from the PM's office's budges, which didn't require the approval of the cabinet.

Miqati had said that the funds were taken from the High Relief Commission, which is under the auspices of the prime minister's office.

The newspaper reported that Miqati had continuously argued that a caretaker cabinet can not take such a decision, however, the funding “ exceptional approval” was taken after talks with Suleiman.