Lebanese government approves international tribunal
Beirut (AsiaNews) An international tribunal charged with trying suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will be set up after the Lebanese government approved the United Nations plan. The draft proposal backed by the Lebanese government now goes to UN Security Council for endorsement. Once that is done it goes back to Lebanon where the government should accept it for it to become an international agreement. However, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, who opposes the proposal, announced that his signature is needed.
Nothing is more uncertain in fact than the proposal for it will take some time before it actually becomes operational. Several hurdles must be overcome, some in the UN itself, where some interested parties might object to it because it was not backed by the entire Lebanese cabinetsix ministers resigned over it and its constitutionality is being challenged by the president. It is also not clear whether the same government will be in power in Beirut when the draft proposal comes back once the security Council gives its green light.
A Hezbollah lawmaker, Hussein Hajj Hassan stated that his party does not object to the substance of the proposal but to its form because of the absence of the six ministers. He accused the parliamentary majority "of exercising a hegemony and monopoly over decision-making."
President Lahoud, who might be investigated by the tribunal according to his critics, denied again that the current government's had any legitimacy to make decisions.
Lebanon's Maronite patriarch, Card Nasrallah Sfeir, and the country's Catholic patriarchs and bishops have waded into the controversy and slammed the attitude of politicians, especially Christian politicians.
"If politicians were aware of the principles of Christian education, wouldn't they put an end to their challenges and insults of one another?" Sfeir said during the opening ceremony of the 40th Assembly of Lebanese Catholic patriarchs and bishops. "Wouldn't they throw out hatred and envy and other feelings that do not reflect their respect for each other?" he added.
The assembly, which has convened to discuss adult education and will end on Saturday, will also discuss the dangerous national situation following the resignation of six ministers from Hezbollah, Amal and a Christian ally of President Lahoud.
In a statement to the press the prelates called on all Lebanese to face the political impasse with "responsibility and patience," and avoid "challenges and demonstrations," urging officials to keep in mind the country's best interests and "provide citizens with a peaceful life."
The current political crisis, which was sparked by Hezbollah's demand to have a third of all cabinet seats for itself and its allies giving it a de facto veto power, seems to be on hold until the return of Parliamentary Speaker Nabib Berri who is on a visit to Iran.
From Tehran Berri, who leads Amal and was behind the decision by Amal minister to resign, said that despite the crisis "everyone was operating within the framework of democratic politics" and that "things can still run their course with a majority and a minority."
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