September 15, 2009 - Daily Star - Hariri tribunal asks for patience over slow-moving case

BEIRUT: Registrar of the UN-backed tribunal to investigate the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Monday asked members of the public to remain patient with the slow-moving case.

The investigation into Hari­ri’s murder by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) was ongoing, David Tolbert told Al-Arabiyya Television, urging those criticizing the court’s sluggish pace to be patient with the complexities of the task.

“Slow investigations do not affect the integrity of the tribunal and it is imperative to be patient because investigations usually take a long time,” Tolbert said. The registrar added that he intended to visit Leba­non soon to inaugurate the tribunal’s Beirut offices.

He also dismissed the idea that the failure of Future Movement leader Saad Hariri to form a national unity government would have negative repercussions on the tribunal or annul previous STL agreements signed with Beirut.

“The commitments made by Lebanon to the tribunal are commitments made by the Lebanese state and do not change with a change of government,” Tolbert said. Rafik Hariri’s son Saad stepped down as Lebanon’s premier-designate on Thursday after accusing the Hizbullah-led opposition of hindering efforts to form a national unity government.

Responding to criticism that Deputy Prosecutor Jocelyne Tabet had still not relocated to the tribunal’s headquarters in The Hague, Tolbert said the delay was due to UN employment protocol and was nothing unusual. Tabet was appointed to the post by the Lebanese government in July. Lebanese critics have said her delay in joining colleagues in The Hague reflected a pattern of UN foot-dragging on appointments to the tribunal.



Reiterating previous remarks, Tolbert emphasized the independence of STL judges, saying the officials adhered to international demands and “we have no doubts about their integrity.”

Tolbert also told Al-Arabiyya that a recent agreement signed by the STL and INTERPOL was “essential.”

The Interim Agreement, which came into force on August 24, allows the STL to request INTERPOL’s assistance for on­going investigations carried out by the Office of the STL Prosecutor, Daniel Bellemare, until a more comprehensive cooperation agreement is signed.

Tolbert said the Tribunal had received a commitment from the Lebanese government to work toward a more extensive agreement. He stressed the need to work in “a serious manner because it is essential that Lebanon fulfills all its commitments, especially financial commitments to the STL.”

Tolbert’s comments came two days after Bellemare’s return to The Hague following medical treatment in Canada.

“The prosecutor would like to express his deepest gratitude to all those from the diplomatic and legal communities, the media corps in Lebanon and elsewhere, and to states’ officials, civil society figures and others as well the STL officials and staff who enquired about his health,” his office said in a press statement on Monday. Bellemare left for Canada in July.

American citizen Tolbert commenced his duties as STL registrar in late August. He is the tribunal’s second registrar, succeeding Robin Vincent. –