STL: Our Mandate Will Be Renewed because Our Work is Not Done yet

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon announced via Twitter on Wednesday that United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon will decide on how long its mandate will be extended after consulting with the Lebanese government and Security Council.

It said: “The agreement between the U.N. and Lebanon states that our mandate will be renewed if our work is not finished. Our work is not finished yet.”

It revealed that STL President Judge Sir David Baragwanath had requested an extension of the mandate.

Asked of its actions should the Lebanese government stall on the renewal, the STL responded that Ban will hold consultations with Lebanon and the Security Council on the matter.

The tribunal also announced that the head of the Defense Office Francois Roux will hold a live session on Twitter with Lebanese citizens and journalists on January 24

During his trip to Lebanon last week, Ban stated that the STL’s mandate ends on February 29.

He stressed that consultations should be held between the Lebanese government and Security Council to determine the length of the extension.

Lebanon had witnessed a dispute between members of its government over the funding of the STL, with some sides opposing the funding and others insisting that Lebanon respect its international obligations.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati settled the dispute when he funded Lebanon’s 49 percent share of the budget from the premiership fund.