Funding STL or not…a regional decision and political calculations

As-Safir daily quoted high-ranking political sources on Saturday as saying that “it is naïve to consider the STL as a judicial entity working independently from the events in the region.”       

“The Tribunal is part of a project targeting the axis of Iran and Syria which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine. In other words, the STL aims at bringing down a particular integrated system.”          

The sources told As-Safir that “If the Syrian regime manages to overcome the severe crisis besieging Syria through the reform-stability equation, there will be no funding for the STL.”    

The sources added that every step and resolution stemming from the Tribunal is determined by a particular political interest and not by pure legal facts and data.           

“Funding the STL or renewing its protocol will be only approved through a major regional decision; Lebanon cannot take such a decision by itself,” the sources added.     

“Facts show that the STL no longer has a crucial regional role. Its goal is now limited to accusing the Iranian and Syrian regimes along with Hezbollah; these accusations will be backed by resolutions issued by the U.N. Security Council or major countries. These resolutions will be manifested by sanctions, international pressure, hinting at a NATO intervention and recognition of the transitional council.”       

“All this was anticipated from the moment the STL issued the indictment. However, the STL will no longer be needed should the U.S.-western project wins.”