March 14 Politicians: The Hague is for the Court and Beirut is for the Government
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Hague - Naharnet Exclusive
Lebanese politicians who are in the Netherlands to attend the start of the trial in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination have rejected to discuss about the new cabinet formation process and stressed that “The Hague is for the court and Beirut is for the government.”
But former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, deputy Speaker Farid Makari, MP Sami Gemayel and other March 14 alliance politicians say they want a government in Lebanon as strong as the court is in The Hague.
They said the pressure exerted on March 14 in the past 10 years to give up its support to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has failed and will also fail in giving up the true meaning of an “all-embracing” cabinet and the rotation of power in the legislative and executive authorities.
“The acceptance to discuss about an all-embracing government does not mean we are giving up our political plan that this cabinet should adopt,” they said.
The officials rejected to link the tribunal's mission with the political life in Lebanon, stressing that the March 14 camp has never tied the functioning of Lebanon's constitutional institutions with the work of the STL.
But they accused the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance of using the constitutional life to obstruct the formation of the tribunal.
The officials stressed that they hold onto their stance since 2005 not to turn the court into a legal tool to make political gains at the expense of their rivals. Yet they would not allow the March 8 camp to turn Lebanon’s constitutional institutions into a political tool to force March 14 into giving up its support for the STL.
The March 14 officials considered that the start of the trial on Thursday morning makes the “government-tribunal” equation void.
March 8 should be realistic and give up its strong efforts to bury the truth in the killings and assassination attempts that Lebanon witnessed in the past 10 years, they said.
The March 14 officials stressed that the start of the trial would not have negative repercussions on Lebanon's stability.
But they said that the results of the trial and the verdicts would leave their mark on Lebanon's political life.
16 January 2014, 08:56
78
where did you see them getting on tours and getting high..! You should call yourself "thelie", it suits you.
16 January 2014, 09:20
58
Allah Yihmeek Ya Rabb Ya Flamethrower! Always ready to debate with truth and logic.
16 January 2014, 09:22
59
momo we call you an Assad loving Iranian because that is what you are.
btw is your beloved Nasrallah going to make one of his rare personal appearances in front of the court and deliver his handfuls of evidence? The logistics and his sleeping accommodations might be a problem, I don't think they will allow him to build a bunker in their sewer system.
16 January 2014, 10:56
83
lol FT.
puppet: why would nasrallah bother and waste his time in this masquerade? we dont recognize the STL as anything more than it is: a political podium for the USraelis and their lebanese puppies.
16 January 2014, 22:12
11
sure mooowaten, all culprits always says that a tribunal is either politicized or a conspiracy against them...
culprits are always childish when it comes to try and deny evidence even when they do not have an idea of what is in possession of the prosecution...
so no wonder you cry... as a faithful pup loyal to its master....
16 January 2014, 09:21
25
Its not like any work were to get done if they stayed. The political gridlock in Lebanon makes American politics seem like a stroll through the park.
16 January 2014, 17:15
21
(response to headline) I didn't know Hezbullah was that strong in Beirut itself.
16 January 2014, 17:52
00
(response to chrisrushlau) that's because you know nothing about Beirut itself of Lebanon for that matter.
