Paris, Riyadh Support Tribunal Regardless of Damascus Reconciliation
France and Saudi Arabia will maintain their support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon regardless of efforts to improve ties with Syria, the French foreign minister said Thursday after talks with his Saudi counterpart in Paris.
"Paris and Riyadh are in agreement over supporting the STL regardless of any attempts of rapprochement between France and Syria and between Saudi Arabia and Syria," French FM Bernard Kouchner told a press conference alongside his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal.
Although the two officials did not discuss the tribunal during their meeting, but the French and Saudi positions "have not changed," Kouchner said. "Saudi Arabia and France both contributed in the financing of the tribunal since the beginning and we await the results."
Kouchner voiced hope that the STL will "find the perpetrators of Hariri”s assassination." He announced he will be visiting Saudi Arabia on March 22.
For his part, Prince Saud said "the tribunal is in the hands of the United Nations."