Security Council, EU Urges Cabinet to Fund STL

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

United Nations Security Council members urged the Lebanese cabinet to implement its international commitments, especially the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, An Nahar newspaper on Friday.

The members advised “Lebanon to implement its commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and pay its dues,” the daily said.

A diplomatic source told the daily that Lebanese Ambassador to the United Nations Nawwaf Salam reiterated President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s “commitment to all international resolutions, including the STL according to ministerial decrees.”

EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule met on Thursday Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Miqati, urging them to “think about the consequences” of challenging the international community.

He said “Lebanon must provide a safe environment for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to carry out its mandate, and ensure the protection of its citizens as well as foreigners and refugees.”

Miqati and Suleiman have continuously voiced their commitment to the funding of the STL, which is set to try former-Premier Rafik Hariri’s suspected assassins.

The PM received at the end of September a message from U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon requesting Lebanon to pay its $33 million in dues.

However, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ruled out on Monday that his party will support the funding of the STL, stating that if the cabinet failed to reach consensus on the matter, then it should be submitted to a vote at the parliament.

The STL had issued arrest warrants against four Hizbullah members, accusing them of being involved in Hariri’s February 2005 murder.

Comments 2
Thumb turmos 28 October 2011, 09:29

What makes me wonder about Berri, Aoun, and Nassrallah is they tend to forget people have memories. Not so long ago, a National Dialogue Committee was formed and on top of its agenda was the Special Tribunal for Lebanon or better known as the STL. It took all attendees just about 10 minutes to approve this item and moved on to discuss the other pending issues!. Following the meeting, Berri held a conference and stated exactly that.

..... now for heavens sake, what changed?! What is the meaning of national dialogue and why call for it again if these people don't honor what they had already committed to?

Default-user-icon Bindy (Guest) 29 October 2011, 01:25

Every one who wants to fund the charade can do so from his own cabinet. These cabinets are manufactured by Ali Baba Industries. It is there that they keep the money they stole from the coffers. If they lost the combination, and I doubt it, they can contact the pair of psychic mediums, Samir Geagea and Walid Jumblat, and ask them to conduct a seance with the spirit of Rafic Syria to get the combination from him.