Clinton Says Indictment Important Milestone Toward Justice, Calls for Calm
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised on Thursday the release of the indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as an important milestone toward ending a period of impunity for political violence in Lebanon.
“The confirmation of the indictments by the pre-trial judge and their delivery by the Special Tribunal to the Lebanese authorities is an important milestone toward justice and ending a period of impunity for political violence in Lebanon,” Clinton said in a statement.
She urged the Lebanese government “to meet its obligations under international law to support” the court that is set to try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s suspected killers.
Clinton also called on all Lebanese parties to promote calm and continue to respect the tribunal.
While stressing that its work is “legitimate and necessary,” Clinton said in her statement that the STL “represents a chance for Lebanon to move beyond its long history of political violence and to achieve the future of peace and stability that the Lebanese people deserve.”
“Those who oppose the Special Tribunal seek to create a false choice between justice and stability. Lebanon, like any country, needs and deserves both,” she added.
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