Jumblat Supports Funding STL: Hizbullah Can Prove its Innocence
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat reiterated his support for the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, stressing that Hizbullah can prove its innocence in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
He told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday: “I support its funding especially since a significant number of Lebanese believe that the international court can uncover the truth in the assassination.”
He justified his support by saying: “The international community is expecting the establishment of the tribunal and it is waiting for any Lebanese slipup.”
“I am worried that it would impose sanctions on Lebanon should we fail to fund the STL,” added the MP.
“I therefore believe that it is necessary to fund it, considering that Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has presented very valuable evidence to the investigation,” Jumblat concluded.
Meanwhile, the daily Al-Liwaa reported the PSP leader as saying that regardless of the political disputes in Lebanon over the STL, the government is “incapable of refusing to implement international decisions, most notably those linked to the tribunal.”
He had informed his visitors the need for Lebanon to commit to funding the court, even if its supporters represent a minority in the current government, implying that the funding still enjoys the support of a majority of MPs.
Al-Liwaa interpreted this as an indication that Jumblat’s National Struggle Front MPs still back the tribunal.
The STL has released arrest warrants against four Hizbullah members, accusing them of being involved in Hariri’s murder.
The party has repeatedly announced that it will not cooperate with the tribunal, deeming it an American-Israeli product aimed at destroying it.
A dispute has recently arisen in Lebanon on whether the March 8-dominant government would commit to funding the tribunal.
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