Saad Hariri hails Tribunal”s move as “step toward achieving justice”
Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri said on Wednesday that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon”s decision to release four generals held for four years on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was a step toward achieving justice.
In a news conference held simultaneously with the release of the four generals, Hariri said: "I don”t feel any disappointment or fear about the fate of the Special Tribunal, which will definitely reach justice and protect Lebanon."
"I welcome any decision issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in Rafik Hariri”s case and the other cases," he said, adding that he would "never doubt a decision issued by the tribunal."
"The decision issued by Judge Daniel Fransen and the recommendation of Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare were a step toward achieving justice," he said.
He added that the move confirmed that the STL "will never be politicized."
"This is a response to those who said that the Tribunal was politicized," he said. "The Lebanese people paid high price for the establishment of the Tribunal." Hariri also praised the "efforts deployed the Lebanese judiciary and security forces in assisting the investigations" and said the STL "is now responsible for what happens after its decisions, which we accept and respect."
"We don”t want revenge; we want justice to be achieved for the sake of Lebanon and its people," he added.
Media reports said Wednesday that the Egyptian Foreign Ministry welcomed the STL”s decision. According to Future News, the ministry said that the release of the four former security officers paved the way for a neutral and non-politicized tribunal.
Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud said Wednesday that the Lebanese state was committed to Judge Fransen”s decision in releasing the four generals and securing their safety. As soon as the decision was announced to release the four generals, Baroud held a news conference at the ministry, during which he said that immediate measures were adopted to release the former officers. He added that the Lebanese government would abide by the decision issued by the STL and would guarantee the generals” security.
Hizbullah, meanwhile, welcomed the generals” release. In a statement, Hizbullah said Fransen”s decision was a condemnation of the Lebanese authority and its despotic arrest of the four officers. It said their arrest was a massive scandal to be manifested in our national records, and an attempt to mislead the investigations into the assassination of late Hariri. The party also called for holding the relevant authorities accountable for misleading the public opinion and keeping the generals under arrest.
Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah, speaking from Sayyed”s house where many well-wishers had gathered, said it was clear from the onset that the case against the four was politically motivated. "We had hoped that the Lebanese would have the courage and conscience to apply the law rather than their political calculations," he told reporters. "This should be a day of joy and celebration for all Lebanese."
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, meanwhile, said he believed in the tribunal”s decision. "I will congratulate some of these generals, because some others committed major violations against the Lebanese system," he said after a meeting on Wednesday with Deputy Speaker Farid Makari and MP Farid Habib.
The Amal Movement said in a statement that "justice has finally achieved victory."
"We congratulate the Lebanese people for the achievement of justice, which confirmed that political accusations do not serve the truth," the party said, adding: "We hope that the international investigation and tribunal would reach the truth and unveil the identity of those who wanted to assassinate Lebanon."
Education Minister Bahia Hariri said the release of the four officers confirmed that the tribunal was not politicized. During a gathering in the town of Majdelyoun, she said there were attempts to "politicize the release of the officers, but we trust this tribunal."