Friday, January 28, 2011

Lebanon: Ban calls on new government to cooperate with Hariri murder court.

28 January 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the newly designated Lebanese Government should continue to cooperate with the United Nations-backed tribunal set up to try suspects in the 2005 murders of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others.
“I have been repeatedly stating the position of the Untied Nations: this is an independent international justice system, justice process,” he told a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum, adding that “nobody, no country, should interfere or obstruct the smooth proceedings of this justice process.”

Lebanon’s previous government, led by Mr. Hariri’s son, Saad, collapsed two weeks ago after 11 Hizbollah and allied ministers resigned, reportedly over the Government’s refusal to cease cooperation with the tribunal, which the media says was about to indict Hizbollah members for the murders.

Earlier this week, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman asked Najib Mikati, who has Hizbollah support according to media reports, to form the new Government.

“I have been very much concerned about this politicizing of this Special Tribunal,” Mr. Ban said. “I hope that the Lebanese people and government will be able to restore the political stability and engage in their social, economic, political development while the accountability process should also progress.”

After meeting with Mr. Mikati in Beirut today, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said he is “sure that the new government, when it is formed, will maintain good relations with the United Nations and will fully abide by its international obligations.”

The tribunal was set up following a probe by the International Independent Investigation Commission after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon’s own inquiry into the massive car bombing that killed Mr. Hariri and the others was seriously flawed, and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the attack. Last week the court received its first indictment, but the contents remain confidential at this stage.

Mr. Williams said Mr. Mikati underlined his strong support for Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a month-long war between Israel and the Hizbollah militia in 2006. It also calls for respect for the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, the disarming of all militias in Lebanon, and an end to arms smuggling in the area.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

BAN EXPECTS NEW LEBANESE GOVERNMENT TO COOPERATE IN HARIRI MURDER TRIAL.

January 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expects the newly designated Lebanese Government to abide by its obligation to cooperate with the United Nations-backed tribunal set up to try suspects in the 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, his spokesman said today.

Lebanon’s Government of national unity, led by Mr. Hariri’s son Saad, collapsed two weeks ago after 11 Hizbollah and allied ministers resigned, reportedly over the Government’s refusal to cease cooperation with the tribunal, which the media says was about to indict Hizbollah members in the murders of Mr. Hariri and 22 others.

After party consultations, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman today asked Najib Mikati, who has Hizbollah support according to media reports, to form the next Government.

Mr. Ban “expects any Government that is formed in Lebanon to abide by the international obligations that Lebanon has undertaken,” spokesman Martin Nesirky told a news briefing. “The Secretary-General strongly supports the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is an independent judicial body. The work of the Special Tribunal should be unaffected by political developments.”

The tribunal was set up following a probe by the International Independent Investigation Commission after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon’s own inquiry into the massive car bombing that killed Mr. Hariri and the others was seriously flawed, and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the attack. Last week the court received its first indictment, but the contents remain confidential at this stage.

“The Secretary-General calls on all the parties to maintain calm and avoid any act of violence, and he welcomes the statement issued by caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri urging calm,” Mr. Nesirky said. “The immediate concern of all Lebanese leaders should be the maintenance of domestic stability and the avoidance of incidents that could easily escalate.”

Monday, January 17, 2011

LEBANON: UN-BACKED COURT RECEIVES FIRST INDICTMENT IN HARIRI ASSASSINATION.

New York, Jan 17 2011 5:10PM
The United Nations-backed tribunal set up to try suspects in the 2005 murders of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others received its first indictment today, but its contents remain confidential at this stage.

The Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Daniel Bellemare, submitted the indictment and supporting materials to Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen, who will now review them, court Registrar Herman von Hebel said in a statement in Leidschendam, Netherlands, where the tribunal sits.

The situation in Lebanon has been marked by rising tensions in recent months and last Wednesday, the government of national unity collapsed when 11 cabinet ministers from Hizbollah and allied groups resigned after months of negotiations brokered by Saudi Arabia and Syria failed to produce a compromise over the Tribunal.

In a statement from his spokesman today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his support for the court, an independent body set up following a probe by the International Independent Investigation Commission after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon’s own inquiry into the massive car bombing that killed Mr. Hariri and the others was seriously flawed, and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the attack.

“The independent judicial process should not be linked with any political debate,” the statement said, stressing that the STL indictment “is in pursuit of its mandate to end impunity for the terrible crimes” that killed Mr. Hariri and 22 others, as well as for related attacks. It underscored that the Tribunal is an independent court of law established at the request of the Government of Lebanon, with a clear mandate from the UN Security Council.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his call on all parties to refrain from any interference or influence in its work, but to allow it to proceed in accordance with the highest legal principles and standards applied by all United Nations-assisted international tribunals,” the statement said.

Last week Mr. Ban met with Mr. Hariri’s son, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, in New York to highlight his support for the Tribunal, stressing its independence and voicing the hope that its work would help end impunity in the country.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

UN CHIEF CLOSELY FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS IN LEBANON, URGES CALM AND DIALOGUE

New York, Jan 12 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is closely monitoring developments in Lebanon and has emphasized the importance of preserving calm there, his spokesperson said today.

“The Secretary-General further calls for continuing dialogue among all parties and respect for the constitution and the laws of Lebanon,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the UN chief also reiterates his full support for the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

According to press reports, Lebanon’s government of national unity collapsed on Wednesday following the resignation from cabinet of 11 ministers from Hizbollah from and allied groups. Reports claim that the 11 resigned after months of negotiations brokered by Saudi Arabia and Syria failed to produce a compromise over the Special Tribunal, which is examining the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The situation in Lebanon has been marked by rising tensions in recent months, a situation described by the Secretary-General in a report issued in October as a “domestic climate of uncertainty and fragility.”

The Special Tribunal is an independent body that was set up following a probe by the International Independent Investigation Commission after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon’s own inquiry into the massive car bombing that killed Rafik Hariri and 22 other people was seriously flawed.

Last Sunday, Mr. Ban reiterated his support for the Tribunal’s work in a meeting in New York with the slain leader’s son and current Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri. During the meeting, Mr. Ban stressed the independence of the Special Tribunal and hoped its work would help end impunity in the country.

Lebanon was also one of the topics the Secretary-General discussed with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in New York on Tuesday. At that meeting, Mr. Ban also expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support stability in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, today met with senior officials from the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces at the UN position at the border crossing at Ras Al Naqoura.

They discussed the implementation of resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah, the issue of the village of Ghajar, which straddles the so-called Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, and other matters related to the situation along the Blue Line.

Monday, January 10, 2011

BAN REITERATES SUPPORT FOR UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL DURING MEETING WITH LEBANESE LEADER.

New York, Jan 10 2011 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reiterated his support for the work of the United Nations-backed tribunal set up to try suspects in the 2005 murders of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others, as he met with the slain leader’s son and current Premier, Saad Hariri.

During the meeting on Sunday evening in New York, Mr. Ban stressed the independence of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and hoped its work would help end impunity in the country.

The Tribunal is an independent body that was set up following a probe by the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon’s own inquiry into the massive car bombing in February 2005 that killed Mr. Hariri and the others was seriously flawed and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the attack.

In the meeting, which was described as “cordial and constructive” by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson, the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister also discussed regional and other efforts to promote stability.

A number of aspects of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah, were discussed, including the need to end Israeli air violations.

The Secretary-General stressed the importance of both parties working for the full implementation of the resolution, and the good work being done by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He also took note of the Lebanese concerns on the maritime boundary issues.

Other issues discussed included the Middle East peace process, and the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative in the search for a resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.