INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON KILLINGS SET TO BEGIN WORK NEXT MARCH, SAYS BAN

INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON KILLINGS SET TO BEGIN WORK NEXT MARCH, SAYS BAN
New York, Nov 30 2008 5:10PM
The international tribunal being set up to try those responsible for political killings in Lebanon, particularly the 2005 attack that killed former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, is on track to begin its work on 1 March 2009, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Sunday, following a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

The date was agreed upon by both men during their meeting today in Doha, Qatar, where they are attending the United Nations follow-up conference on financing for development.

"I and Prime Minister Siniora agree that the launch of the Special Tribunal will be a significant step towards the end of impunity," Mr. Ban said in <http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp>remarks to the press after the meeting. "We also hope that the Security Council will endorse the plan."

The Council asked Mr. Ban last year to set up the court after Mr. Sinior
a informed the 15-member body that all domestic options had been exhausted.

The Special Tribunal is designed to try those accused of recent political murders in Lebanon, particularly the February 2005 assassination of Mr. Hariri in a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut that killed 22 others.

A number of steps have been taken over the course of this year to formally set up the court, including the signing of a headquarters agreement with the Netherlands, the appointment of the Prosecutor, Registrar and judges, and the establishment of a management committee.

The probe into the killings is being carried out by the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC), headed by Daniel Bellemare, a Canadian prosecutor.

Mr. Ban said that the staff of the IIIC in Beirut will gradually transfer to The Hague starting on 1 January. "This will be carried out in a manner that ensures that there is no interruption to the IIIC investigation," he noted.

The Secretary-General thanke
d those countries that have contributed funds to the Special Tribunal, and encouraged all Member States to pledge their financial support for the coming years so that the court will be able to function on a firm financial footing.

Nov 30 2008 5:10PM
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