Wednesday, July 20, 2011

STL Press release - The President of the Tripoli Bar Association visits the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

Leidschendam, 20 July 2011 – Mr Bassam DAYE, the President of the Bar Association of Tripoli in North Lebanon, paid a two-day official visit to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on 18 and 19 July at the invitation of the Defence Office.
Mr DAYE held talks with the Vice-President of the Tribunal, Mr Ralph RIACHY, with the Pre-Trial Judge, Mr Daniel FRANSEN, and the Prosecutor, Mr Daniel BELLEMARE.
Following the confirmation of an indictment by the Pre-Trial Judge, the Head of Defence Office, Mr François ROUX, explained to the President of the Tripoli Bar Association the mechanisms that have been put in place to assist the future defence teams.
President DAYE also attended a hearing at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and met representatives from the International Criminal Court and the International Bar Association after visiting the Peace Palace.
At the end of his visit, Mr DAYE commented: "I am glad to have had the opportunity to put to senior Tribunal officials the questions that many Lebanese people have been asking themselves. I stressed the need to guarantee the rights of the accused in order to render justice equitably. The reception I was given has strengthened my desire to develop constructive exchanges with the actors involved in international criminal justice."
 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

STL Media Advisory – Al Sayed Appeal

Leidschendam, 19 July 2011 – The Appeals Chamber has issued a decision today in the Jamil Al Sayed matter, sending back the file to the Pre-Trial Judge for further consideration.
Background:
The Appellant was detained by the Lebanese authorities for more than three and a half years as part of the investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Following the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and on the application of the Tribunal's Prosecutor, the Appellant was released without charge by order of the Pre-Trial Judge. He applied to the Tribunal for disclosure of documents in its possession to enable him to bring proceedings before national courts against persons allegedly responsible for false allegations against him. The Appeals Chamber previously upheld a decision of the Pre-Trial Judge that the Appellant has standing to make the application and that the Tribunal has jurisdiction to entertain it. It confirmed the existence of a generally expressed right to such disclosure and remanded the case for further consideration by the Pre-Trial Judge. The Appellant now challenges on appeal the decision of the Pre-Trial Judge that three categories of documents were exempt from disclosure, namely (1) correspondence between the Lebanese authorities and the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission ("UNIIIC" or "Commission"); (2) internal memoranda of the UNIIIC; and (3) the notes of investigators.

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Council conclusions on Lebanon

3106th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting

Brussels, 18 July 2011

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

1. "The EU welcomes the formation of a new government in Lebanon. It expects that the new government will ensure promotion of stability, unity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon in full respect of the constitution and the rule of law. The EU trusts that the Lebanese government will give priority to strengthening the state's authority. It encourages the new government to implement an ambitious agenda of much needed economic, social and political reforms.

2. The Council expects that the new Lebanese government will be committed to the full implementation of all relevant UNSC Resolutions, including 1559, 1680, 1701 and 1757.

3. Concerned by the absence of an explicit commitment to cooperate with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the Ministerial Declaration, the Council calls upon the new government to respect and fulfil all its international obligations and commitments stemming from UNSCR 1757. It reiterates EU's full support to the Special Tribunal, an independent court, established by the UNSC Resolution 1757 and following the highest judicial standards. The Council expects all parties to fully cooperate with the Tribunal. It further calls on all Lebanese actors to act constructively and continue to show restraint.

4. Bearing this in mind, the EU attaches great importance to the partnership between the European Union and Lebanon. As Lebanon achieves sustainable progress towards reforms, in particular in strengthening democracy, rule of law, inclusive economic development and reducing social inequalities, the EU is prepared to match this with increased support, as foreseen in the framework of the new European Neighbourhood Policy."