French Foreign Ministry: Lebanese government's stance regarding STL is perturbing

NNA - 8/7/2011 - The French Foreign Ministry expressed on Friday its worry over the new Lebanese government's stance regarding the cooperation with the special tribunal for Lebanon assigned of referring to trial the assassins of the late Rafic Hariri.
France believes the new government tends to cast doubt over the tribunal's neutralism and professionalism

UNTSO: Equipment transportation normal UN-adopted procedure

 NNA - 7/7/2011 United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) office head in Beirut, Colonel Richard Hauser, issued on Thursday a statement in which it said that the transportation of 97 computers by the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) from Naqoura to Israel is a normal procedure adopted by the U.N.

Hauser also said that each computer's hard disk was removed, destroyed, and replaced with new one, affirming that the computers are still in their possession and that "such procedures are adopted when equipments are transferred from one U.N. mission to another."

"The operation was conducted with complete transparency and in conformity with followed procedures," he concluded.

It is noteworthy that Hauser's statement came in response to Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's disclosure of a UNTSO document stating that the computers belong to the UNIIIC and they were in fact moved to Israel.

According to Nasrallah, the document provided proof that 97 computers were transported by investigators through Naqoura to Israel and not through the airport or Beirut port, at a time when STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare was still the head of the committee probing Hariri's murder.

Confirmation of Indictment Shows that the Prosecutor’s Investigation Relies on Credible Evidence

Leidschendam, 4 July 2011 – In response to allegations made by Mr. Hassan Nasrallah in his speech of 2 July 2011, the Prosecutor stated that "the staff of the OTP have been recruited on the basis of their professionalism, impartiality and expertise, and I have full confidence in their strong commitment to finding the truth".

The Prosecutor welcomes Mr. Nasrallah's offer to provide the file that he stated he has on some elements of the investigation and requests the video material that was shown on television during his televised statement, as well as any other information and documents that would assist the Tribunal in its ongoing pursuit of justice.

The investigation is carried out according to the highest standards of international justice and its results are based solely on facts and credible evidence. The Prosecutor stated that "the staff of the OTP act independently and in good faith in their search for the truth".

In seeking the release of the four generals in April 2009, the Prosecutor has already demonstrated that when he is not satisfied with the credibility or reliability of the evidence he will not hesitate to reject it.

In confirming the indictment on 28 June 2011, the Pre-Trial Judge ruled that he was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to send the accused to trial for the attack of 14 February 2005.

The Prosecutor will not engage in a public debate in the media about the credibility of his investigation or of the investigative process. This is a judicial process and should be treated as such. In this context, the proper forum to challenge the investigation or the evidence gathered as a result, is in open court during a trial that will fully comply with international standards.

As has often been stated, justice is the guarantee of sustainable stability. The Prosecutor calls for all steps to be taken to bring the accused to justice.

INTERPOL urges UN-backed court to authorize entering names of individuals wanted for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri into police databases.

LYON, France - INTERPOL has been cooperating closely with the Special Tribunal of Lebanon (STL), since its formation, to assist in identifying and bringing to justice those responsible for the assassination on 14 February 2005 of Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon.
As part of that cooperation, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has the authority to seek international wanted persons notices (Red Notices) via INTERPOL to apprehend and to prevent the unlawful flight of those wanted for arrest by the STL.
The Special Tribunal of Lebanon also has the authority to request INTERPOL to keep the names of those wanted for arrest confidential, under seal, and made available only to police in INTERPOL's 188 member countries.
Until now, INTERPOL has received no request from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to issue INTERPOL Red Notices or to enter into INTERPOL's databases any information about the individuals wanted for arrest for the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafiq Hariri.
In response to any media inquiries on why INTERPOL Red Notices have not been requested and why the identifying data of those wanted for arrest by the STL have not been entered into our databases, INTERPOL will only make the following statement:
"INTERPOL can offer no explanation for why the Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon would not authorize the disclosure to INTERPOL's 188 member countries of the names, dates of birth and photographs of those wanted for arrest by the Special Tribunal of Lebanon for the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon.
Police cannot arrest, prevent dangerous persons from entering their countries' borders, or prevent their flight from justice of other countries based on information in the media; police require authorization from judicial or other governmental authorities."
INTERPOL's Secretary General, Ronald K. Noble, has stated on many occasions that "the failure to include the names and identifiers of those wanted for arrest in INTERPOL databases increases their ability to cross international borders undetected and to avoid apprehension."
Any media inquiries to INTERPOL concerning those wanted for arrest by the Special Tribunal Lebanon for the assassination of Rafiq Hariri should be directed to the STL itself.
INTERPOL media release  

Indictments by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

July 1, 2011

The United States congratulates the Special Tribunal for its hard work on completing this important step. We understand that this is an emotional and significant period for all involved, and we call on all parties to promote calm and continue to respect the Special Tribunal as it carries out its duties in a professional and apolitical manner.
The confirmation of the indictments by the pre-trial judge and their delivery by the Special Tribunal to the Lebanese authorities is an important milestone toward justice and ending a period of impunity for political violence in Lebanon. We call on the Government of Lebanon to continue to meet its obligations under international law to support the Special Tribunal.
The Special Tribunal is an independent judicial entity, established by an agreement between the Lebanese Government and the United Nations in response to a very difficult time in Lebanon's history. Its work is legitimate and necessary. It represents a chance for Lebanon to move beyond its long history of political violence and to achieve the future of peace and stability that the Lebanese people deserve. Those who oppose the Special Tribunal seek to create a false choice between justice and stability. Lebanon, like any country, needs and deserves both.

Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare Welcomes Confirmation of Indictment

Leidschendam, 1 July 2011 – The Prosecutor Daniel A. Bellemare welcomes the decision of the Pre-Trial Judge on 28 June 2011 to confirm the indictment that he filed regarding the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafiq Hariri on 14 February 2005. This attack resulted in the death of 21 other victims and the injury of at least 230 others.

 

The Pre-Trial Judge also granted the Prosecutor's request to issue arrest warrants against the persons named in the indictment and asked the Lebanese authorities to execute these warrants.

By order of the Pre-Trial Judge, the content of the confirmation decision and indictment are still confidential and will be made public only when so ordered by the Pre-Trial Judge.

 

The decision of the Pre-Trial Judge represents an important milestone as it is the first independent judicial review of the work of the Office of the Prosecutor. By confirming the indictment, the Pre-Trial Judge was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to send the accused to trial. Accused persons are presumed innocent until their guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt before the Trial Chamber of the Tribunal.

 

The confirmation of the indictment is only a second step in the judicial process. The Office of the Prosecutor's investigations are still ongoing and work continues to be ready for trial. The Prosecutor can submit additional indictments to the Pre-Trial Judge at any stage.

 

The confirmed indictment is the result of strong teamwork and dedication in the Office of the Prosecutor and countless hours of investigative work. This result could not have been achieved without the support and assistance of the Lebanese authorities.  It reflects, above all, the continued commitment of the Lebanese people to put an end to impunity in Lebanon.

 

The Prosecutor thanks the Lebanese people and the families of the victims for their patience and hopes that this confirmation will renew their confidence in our resolve to uncover the truth. 

 

Bringing the accused to justice will require adherence to the rule of law, the continued cooperation of the Lebanese authorities, and support of the international community. 

New York, 30 June 2011 - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on The Special Tribunal for Lebanon

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon has confirmed that an indictment, accompanied by arrest warrants, was delivered this morning to the Prosecutor General to the Supreme Court in Lebanon, Mr Mirza. While the delivery of the indictment and warrants has been publicized, their contents have not been shared with the United Nations.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an independent court of law established at the request of the Government of Lebanon, with a clear mandate from the United Nations Security Council pursuant to its resolution 1757 (2007). Under resolution 1757, the Lebanese authorities are required to locate, arrest, detain and transfer the accused persons to the Tribunal.

The Secretary-General reiterates his strong support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and for its efforts to uncover the truth and send a message that impunity will not be tolerated. He calls on all states to support the independent judicial process, in particular by cooperating with the Special Tribunal in the execution of the indictment and arrest warrants. The Secretary-General expects the new Government of Lebanon to uphold all of Lebanon's international obligations and to cooperate with the Special Tribunal.