Post by Janjoon-Lebanese on Nov 13, 2006 11:24:04 GMT -5
New Draft on Hariri Murder Court
11-11-06
BY: NAHARNET
The United Nations has handed Lebanon a new draft text outlining the framework of an international tribunal
U.N. Hands Lebanon New Draft on Hariri Murder Court
The United Nations has handed Lebanon a new draft text outlining the framework of an international tribunal to try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's suspected assassins, a government official said Friday.
U.N. chief Kofi Annan's personal representative Geir Pederson handed the draft to Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, the official told Agence France Presse.
There was no immediate word on what changes, if any, had been made to earlier drafts.
Last month, pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud took issue with a draft document that left out the word "international" from the title of the yet-to-be-formed court.
Taking account of Article 52 of the constitution, which says that the head of state negotiates international treaties and ratifies them with the prime minister and support of the cabinet, (the president) expresses his reservations about the plan," said a statement released by the presidential palace on October 30.
Lahoud "particularly warns about adopting the name 'Lebanon Special Tribunal', which could have an impact on the image of Lebanese around the world and damage the tribunal's 'international character'," it said.
Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005 in a massive bomb blast on the Beirut seafront that also killed 22 others.
A U.N. probe into the murder has implicated senior officials from Lebanon and Syria, which for decades was Lebanon's power-broker. Damascus strongly denies any connection with the killing.
In September, the Lebanese government said that a tribunal proposal submitted at the time needed clarification before a final version was adopted, without saying what issues were outstanding.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan first suggested setting up the court made up of foreign and Lebanese judges in March.
After receiving the new draft, the next step is for the Lebanese government to approve it and ask parliament to pass it into law.
11-11-06
BY: NAHARNET
The United Nations has handed Lebanon a new draft text outlining the framework of an international tribunal
U.N. Hands Lebanon New Draft on Hariri Murder Court
The United Nations has handed Lebanon a new draft text outlining the framework of an international tribunal to try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's suspected assassins, a government official said Friday.
U.N. chief Kofi Annan's personal representative Geir Pederson handed the draft to Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, the official told Agence France Presse.
There was no immediate word on what changes, if any, had been made to earlier drafts.
Last month, pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud took issue with a draft document that left out the word "international" from the title of the yet-to-be-formed court.
Taking account of Article 52 of the constitution, which says that the head of state negotiates international treaties and ratifies them with the prime minister and support of the cabinet, (the president) expresses his reservations about the plan," said a statement released by the presidential palace on October 30.
Lahoud "particularly warns about adopting the name 'Lebanon Special Tribunal', which could have an impact on the image of Lebanese around the world and damage the tribunal's 'international character'," it said.
Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005 in a massive bomb blast on the Beirut seafront that also killed 22 others.
A U.N. probe into the murder has implicated senior officials from Lebanon and Syria, which for decades was Lebanon's power-broker. Damascus strongly denies any connection with the killing.
In September, the Lebanese government said that a tribunal proposal submitted at the time needed clarification before a final version was adopted, without saying what issues were outstanding.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan first suggested setting up the court made up of foreign and Lebanese judges in March.
After receiving the new draft, the next step is for the Lebanese government to approve it and ask parliament to pass it into law.
