Miqati Says Meeting with Bellemare and STL Funding Letter Untrue

Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied on Saturday that he held talks with Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare during his visit to New York last month.

“No meeting took place between the premier and Judge Bellemare,” said a statement issued by Miqati’s press office.

The statement also denied a report by pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that the tribunal prosecutor handed Miqati a letter urging Lebanon to pay its share of the STL funds.

Al-Hayat’s report is untrue, it said.

The newspaper quoted STL Registrar Herman von Hebel as saying during his visit to Washington that Bellemare held talks with President Michel Suleiman and Miqati in September and handed the premier a letter reminding Lebanon of its dues.

Hebel expected Lebanon to pay its share by the end of October, it said.

The registrar announced Wednesday that Lebanon has 30 days to pay around $33 million.