UN gives green light to international court for Hariri's murder
The decision was taken unanimously by the Security Council. Lebanese and international judges will sit in the court. Beirut said the resolution will lead to peace in the region.
Beirut (AsiaNews/Agencies) An international court will judge those charged with the murder of the former Lebanese premier Rafic Hariri. The United Nations Security Council yesterday unanimously approved a resolution submitted by France, Great Britain and the United States, calling on the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to negotiate with Beirut to launch a court of Lebanese and international judges. For security reasons, the court will not be based in the country of the Cedars.
A while ago, the Lebanese government officially submitted a request for the setting up of a court "of international nature" to try people linked to Hariri's murder, which could expand its brief to cover also political assassinations of anti-Syrian personalities committed after October 2004.
The last request is not mentioned in the UN decision that follows a report by Annan issued last week. Annan's report was based on the conclusions of the United Nations Legal Counsel, Nicolas Michel that maintained the need for "more in-depth research" into the matter.
The positive effect that the unanimity of the Security Council's vote could have on developments in the Lebanese scenario was stressed by Beirut's representative at the UN, Boutros Assaker. "The strong commitment and determination" of the international community manifested in the vote will, in his view, "deter criminals and will promote security and stability in Lebanon and throughout the region".
In Resolution 1664, adopted yesterday, the Security Council also renewed its appeal for "rigorous respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon, under the unique and exclusive authority of its government".
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