Sleiman: no one threatens me or warns me…we should fund the STL

President Michel Sleiman confirmed on Monday that “what distinguishes Lebanon is its commitment to the legitimacy of the United Nations as well as its international resolutions, and there is no alternative to this commitment. We should fund the STL; however, this does not mean that we should remain tightlipped if the Tribunal commits mistakes as it did when it leaked the investigation and the indictment.”     

Asked whether any official was threatened or warned against evading the funding, Sleiman told Ad-Diyar daily, “I am the Lebanese president, no one threatens me; no one warns me.      

Commenting on the administrative reform, Sleiman attributed the stalled administrative reforms to the fact that “the right person is not being put in the right place”, adding that “I will not approve any administrative appointments or promotion issues that do not receive the consent of the Council of Civil Service.” 

Asked on the reason behind not promoting Col. Wissam al-Hassan to the rank of Brigadier General, Sleiman answered: “I have heard many statements from MPs and officials accusing me of exempting Hassan from promotion for spiteful reasons. This is absolutely incorrect since I have already signed two decrees on al-Hassan’s promotion. But eventually, I am responsible for seeing to it that everything runs smoothly in the military chain of command.”

Sleiman denied that any row has erupted between him and Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun over the Christian appointments issue as “each position is discussed separately and as part of a mechanism established for this purpose.”   

On the electoral law, Sleiman voiced hope that the new electoral law would ensure fair representation of different Lebanese factions, help consolidate the coexistence formula and soften sharp divisions.