Naharnet - UN : les pays qui ne coopereront pas avec le Tribunal Hariri devront faire face a un "situation difficile"

Naharnet - UN : Any country that fails to cooperate with Hariri Court will face "difficult situation", 2 april 2008

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel said any country that fails to cooperate with the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri will face a "difficult situation."In an interview with LBC television station late Tuesday, Michel said the tribunal will operate according to the highest standards of criminal courts.He stressed that the court was not politicized, adding that the tribunal awaits completion of investigation.Michel said it will be up to the International Tribunal Prosecutor to name suspects. He pointed to appropriate measures being taken to protect the witnesses. Michel refused to respond to comments by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in which he said that Damascus rejected a bargain offer over the international tribunal."Bargain offers were made to us that went unnoticed and did not get our attention," Muallem said. "We were told 'facilitate presidential elections (in Lebanon), and we will terminate the tribunal,'" he added. Michel stressed that the U.N. does not enter into such bargains.