February 16, 2009 - Daily Star - Visit by 30 members of Hariri probe 'proves Syrian cooperation'

By Dalila Mahdawi
BEIRUT: A delegation from the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) probing the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri that traveled to Syria made the visit as part of a previously arranged "investigative mission" with the Syrian government, a Lebanese judicial source told The Daily Star on Sunday.
About 30 IIIC officials made their way to Syria on Friday, one day ahead of the fourth anniversary of Hariri's murder. The former premier was killed along with 22 others by a massive car bomb in Beirut. His death caused popular outrage in Lebanon and lead neighboring Syria to withdraw its military from the country after almost 30 years of dominating Lebanese politics.
According to the judicial source, who wished to remain anonymous, the visit had been organized at an earlier date with the Syrian government. Investigators took with them a list of the names of officials they intended to question, the source said, including people they had previously interviewed.
The mandate of the IIIC is due to finish at the end of February, after which the Special Tribunal for Lebanon officially begins operations in The Hague.
"Coming at such a time, this visit proves that Syria is involved with the tribunal, contrary to previous Syrians claims that it would have nothing to do with the tribunal," the source said.
All states had an obligation to cooperate with the tribunal and it was therefore in Syria's interest to cooperate or else it would be "accused of obstructing justice," added the source.
"According to the tribunal's mandate, Syria is also obliged to hand over any suspects."
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly said in the past that any Syrian suspects would be tried at home.
"Despite what the Syrians are saying publicly, they know that they cannot but cooperate with the tribunal," said the source.
IIIC spokesperson Radia Ashoury said on Friday that the visit was related to "operational aspects" of the commission's work, but refused to provide any other details.