The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday to
establish an international tribunal to try suspects in the murder
of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
Of the 15 members of the council, 10 voted in favor and five
--Russia, China, Qatar, Indonesia and South Africa --
abstained.
The resolution slated a grace period until June 10 for the
Lebanese parties to ratify an earlier agreement reached in November
by the United Nations and the Lebanese government to establish the
court. Otherwise, the resolution's provisions shall enter into
force immediately.
The West-sponsored text stated that the location of the tribunal
shall be determined in consultation with the Lebanese government
and be subject to the conclusion of a headquarters agreement
between the United Nations and the host country.
It decided that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "may accept or
use voluntary contributions" from member states if contributions
from the Lebanese government are not sufficient.
According to the document, the tribunal shall "commence
functioning on a date" to be determined by the secretary-general in
consultation with the Lebanese government, taking into account the
progress of the work of the UN's independent probe into the
assassination.
It also requested the UN chief, "in coordination, when
appropriate, with the government of Lebanon, to undertake the steps
and measures necessary to establish the special tribunal in a
timely manner and to report to the council within 90 days."
The resolution invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which deals
with threats to international peace and security.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya told the council that China
hopes for continued political and diplomatic efforts to assist the
Lebanese to reach a consensus as soon as possible.
Only a tribunal supported by all Lebanese parties can be
effective, Wang said.
"This is a move that will give rise to a series of political and
legal problems, likely to add to the uncertainties embedded in the
already turbulent political and security and situation in Lebanon,
and will create a precedent of the Security Council interfering in
the domestic affairs and legislative independence of a sovereign
state," he added.
Qatar's UN ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser said his
country opposes the insistence of the sponsors to put the
resolution under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.
"We are simply apprehensive that adopting this draft under
Chapter 7 will not serve to bring stability to that country,"
Al-Nasser said.
Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin also voiced reservations to
the draft's reference to Chapter 7, saying that council's move in
essence constitutes "an encroachment upon the sovereignty of
Lebanon."
Hariri, a famous anti-Syrian figure, was killed along with 22
others in a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut in February
2005. Syria has denied any wrongdoing in the assassination.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora sent a letter to the UN
secretary-general earlier this month asking the Security Council to
impose such an international court in the face of blocking efforts
by the parliament's minority.
The request, however, was followed immediately by a letter
addressed to Ban by the country's president, Emile Lahoud, which
warned that the council's imposition of the court would cause chaos
in Lebanon.
(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2007)
