Dec 5 2010 Interview given by Michèle Alliot-Marie, {Ministre d’Etat}, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, to the “Le Monde” newspaper.

Excerpts: LEBANON/STL INDICTMENT

Q. – The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is preparing to present its bills of indictment. You recently held a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Is the priority the functioning of the tribunal or, as Saudi Arabia seems to think, the stability of Lebanon?
THE MINISTER – Threats are made by some in Lebanon, in particular Hezbollah. We must remember one thing: the tribunal was created by the international community. Nobody can stop it. It's independent and must function. That is France's position. We also think Lebanon's unity must be preserved and her institutions strengthened. The tribunal's work and the fact of being able to say individuals are responsible – and not a whole community – must enable that unity to be strengthened on solid foundations.