August 11, 2010 - ILoubnan - Zahra: Hezbollah is trying to undermine the Special Tribunal

BEIRUT - Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said that those who are trying to presuppose and judge the indictments in former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination based on media leaks are trying to set the tribunal up to fail, targeting the STL as a means of opposing Lebanon’s credibility.

Zahra reminded that "some political groups have no confidence in the tribunal, and politicians like Nasrallah have describing the tribunal as an “Israeli project,” intending to incite domestic trouble and as a means to attack the legitimacy of the tribunal."

“We cannot attack the STL unless we have concrete information,” Zahra insisted, while advising against prejudging and jumping to conclusions.

Zahra said that the aerial image of Zouk that was revealed in the press conference is recent footage that dating after 2007. Moreover, Zahra said, "the tribunal has proved its willingness to listen to all sides."

On the other hand, Zahra saluted the security measures and efforts that had been taken to hunt down collaborators of the assassination, and said "we are for the execution of collaborators," pointing out that not all those arrested are politically tied to march 14.

Concerning the US decision to suspend military aid to Lebanon Zahra said that “the US decision to block aid to the Lebanese military over concerns that Hezbollah may have undue influence over the Lebanese army were not substantial.” Zahra insisted that as the army is the force with which the government exercises its sovereign authority and defends its borders, then the American aid sent to the army is used to maintain the internal security of Lebanon while combating terrorism.

Finally, Zahra confirmed that Lebanon cannot survive without national unity partnership.