International Tribunal competent of appropriate decisions
Defense Minister Elias al-Murr said on Monday that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was the proper body to take the decision regarding the release of the four arrested generals who were detained in connection with the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. “If it decides to release the generals then it has many reasons to do so and the Lebanese justice department may only have one percent of what [evidence] the international tribunal has,” he said.
Murr stressed that 99 percent of the testimonies and documents were with the Special Tribunal, which he said would make the correct decision. Murr added that what was crucial was that nobody was treated unjustly and “if there was an aggressor then we will leave it for justice to respond to him.”
After visiting Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Monday, Murr said that the Patriarch’s “position has not changed and his only concern continues to be the Christian presence and status in Lebanon.” The Patriarch, Murr continued, wanted best Christian representation in the post-election phase and for Christian voters to be able to strongly express their true desires.
Murr noted that after last week’s ambush of an army convoy in Riyak and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the Bekaa region, the situation had improved. Murr said that he had “full trust” in army commander General Jean Kahwaji, and his performance and wisdom in addressing the military situation. He added that people who undermined security were present in every region in Lebanon. “There is no region with outlaws or felons and another without,” he said.
Concerning the upcoming parliamentary elections, Murr confirmed that he had full confidence in Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, saying that what he had done so far was “very good”. On election-day the Lebanese army would support Baroud and the security forces in facilitating the elections, he said.