STL President: Lebanon must fund STL to prevent collision with UNSC

STL President Judge David Baragwanath met with a number of Lebanese officials to brief them on the work done so far by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Baragwanath, accompanied by the Tribunal’s Vice President Ralph Riachy, met with President Michel Sleiman to discuss relations between Lebanon and the Hague-based Tribunal.

The two men discussed the issue of Lebanon living up to its share of STL expenses. The STL delegation also met with PM Najib Mikati in the Grand Serail.

During the meeting Mikati reiterated Lebanon’s respect to Resolution 1757, adding that it is keeping track of the mechanisms that will study the issue of funding then STL, paving the way to make the appropriate decision. Mikati voiced hope that the STL will still operate within legal boundaries and steer clear of politicization and discretionary.  

Baragwanath and Riachy visited Foeign Minister Adnan Mansour to display cooperation mechanisms between the STL and Lebanon regarding the conditions of the STL’s employees living in Lebanon.  

“We hope the cabinet will approve STL funding, especially that the president and the PM already agreed to fund the STL in order to avoid a collision with the UN Security Council”, Baragwanath said.