Hariri Says in Contact with Hizbullah on MoU
MP Saad Hariri has been conducting "behind the scenes" talks with Hizbullah to discuss the party”s reservations to a memorandum of understanding between the government and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the pan-Arab al-Hayat daily said Sunday.
Cabinet on Thursday postponed discussion of the MoU for the second week in a row after minority ministers argued that the third clause in the draft text of the memorandum would "expose Lebanon and subject every Lebanese to scrutiny."
The paper said Hariri has been adamant to keep discussion on the MoU shielded from public political bickering and "media limelight in order to understand concerns (over the document) and reach a satisfactory solution for everybody."
The memorandum proposed by the Justice Ministry seeks to regulate relations between the Lebanese judiciary and the STL”s general prosecutor. The Cabinet agreed to form a committee to study the issue
In an interview with Abu Dhabi television, Hariri disclosed he has been in contact with Hizbullah on the MoU expecting "an imminent agreement" on the issue.
He said that the third clause did not represent an infringement of Lebanon”s sovereignty. "Lebanon”s sovereignty was breached the day (former Premier) Rafik Hariri was killed. Finding out the identity of the killer is not a violation of this sovereignty."
Hariri warned that "countries proven uncooperative with the STL will be penalized." He also said that recent signs of rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Syria were not "linked to the STL but will benefit Lebanon”s stability and security and will help establish new ties with Syria."