Naharnet - US : le Tribunal devrait prendre effet en Avril, les noms des juges seront bientot reveles

Naharnet - US : Tribunal starts operating in April, Names of Judges to be unveiled soon, 27 march 2008.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Kristen Silverberg has said she expected the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to begin operations next month.She also told journalists in Washington on Tuesday that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will announce soon the names of judges selected to serve on the tribunal.She said Ban will present a new report to the Security Council on Thursday for consultations over the latest developments in the investigation over ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination and the court's functioning in April.In his last report, Ban reiterated the U.N.'s commitment to the tribunal's efficient course of action. "I am confident our joint efforts will help the Lebanese people and their government to reach the common objective of seeing justice and the rule of law."He added that unofficial discussions between the tribunal's judges would lead to establishing procedural rules very soon.Silverberg stressed the need for all countries to cooperate with the court which will try suspects in Hariri's murder and related crimes.She said Syria is aware of the Bush administration's stance towards the necessity to cooperate with the tribunal, adding the U.S. hoped "the international community will pressure any government that rejects" cooperation with the court.An Nahar daily said Wednesday that Silverberg was in The Hague where she met with officials responsible for the court's functioning.The tribunal is based at a former Dutch intelligence headquarters in a suburb of The Hague.The U.S. official told the reporters in Washington that she was "optimistic because things were going in the right direction."The phase of establishing the tribunal has been achieved, Silverberg said, adding that the court has now entered the preliminary phase of activities.Asked when the tribunal will bring charges against the culprits or issue arrest warrants, Silverberg said such a decision is made by the general prosecutor and depends on "strong evidence" presented to judges.About the court's jurisdiction, Silverberg said the accused or the witnesses should appear before the tribunal no matter what their nationalities are.