Government Policy Statement Will Stress Justice, Won’t Mention STL
Government policy statement discussions over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon may force the committee drafting it to phrase the statement in general terms regarding Lebanon’s commitment to justice and the tribunal itself, an informed source told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published on Saturday.
It said that the final statement may serve to appease the majority and opposition.
Two parties of the majority are insisting on dropping any reference to the STL or commitment to U.N. Security Council resolution 1757 on the tribunal, demanding that they be replaced with the adoption of the equation of the army, people, and resistance.
The government of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri had adopted resolution 1757.
The source expected the policy statement to include generalities over justice and not mention the STL by name, and therefore when its indictment is released, the government would not recognize it and “temporarily avoid its fiery repercussions.”
Member of the committee drafting the policy statement, Minister of State Ali Qanso told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published on Saturday: “The government won’t address the tribunal because the issue does not enjoy Lebanese consensus.”
“We don’t want the statement to mention any issues of contention,” he added.
“It will only stress the need to abide by justice and uncover crimes,” he continued.
“Hasn’t the STL demonstrated that it is politicized?” Qanso asked.
“The tribunal is incapable of achieving justice because it has been transformed into a weapon to harm the Resistance,” he said.
He meanwhile stated that the government will emphasize Lebanon’s commitment to other international resolutions “because all sides support U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.”
“The international community should pressure Israel to commit to it and halt its daily violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty,” he added.
On the cabinet’s position on Hizbullah, Qanso hoped that the Resistance would enjoy unanimous consensus among the Lebanese “given Israel’s constant threat against the country.”
“The policy statement will reiterate support for the equation of the people, army, and Resistance,” he revealed.
The committee drafting the statement is scheduled to hold its second meeting on Tuesday.
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