Vincent Signs Agreement with Najjar, Expects Tribunal Trials to Start Next Year
Special Tribunal for Lebanon Registrar Robin Vincent and Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar signed an agreement to set up a bureau that represents the court in Lebanon.
Vincent, who resigned his post on April 21, said Wednesday that the office will be "the link between the tribunal and Lebanon because the court”s headquarters is not in Lebanon."
"We need a presence in Beirut and an office that provides services five or six days a week. The staff will take charge of continuously providing the press with information," he told reporters and representatives of non-governmental organizations at Phoenicia hotel.
Vincent said the staff will enjoy diplomatic immunity but the court will guarantee that the employees do not misuse their immunity.
He said the court”s budget for 2010 reached $65 million, a $14 million increase from the current year”s budget. He also told reporters that he met with the representatives of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council in New York asking them for more funding.
"There is a possibility they could increase their contributions," Vincent said, adding that the Lebanese government and people are interested in the contributions of other countries no matter how limited the amount was.
He also unveiled that trials are expected to start next year although he said he wasn”t aware of investigation into ex-Premier Rafik Hariri”s assassination.
The justice ministry”s press office said in a statement that Vincent”s follower will be appointed in the next few days and will assume his duties on July.