Ashton Concerned Over ‘Absence of Explicit Commitment to STL’
In the first foreign reaction to the vote of confidence that Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s cabinet received on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed concern over the absence in the policy statement of an explicit commitment to the international tribunal.
The confidence vote “will enable Lebanon to respond to the political and economic challenges it is facing,” Ashton said in a statement.
“I take note of the government's ministerial declaration which highlights the importance of deepening relations with the European Union. The EU is ready to further develop its partnership with Lebanon and support the much needed reforms,” she said.
But the diplomat expressed concern over “the absence of an explicit commitment to cooperate with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.” Ashton stressed that the tribunal should continue to function with the full cooperation of all parties.
“Achieving international justice and preserving stability in Lebanon are mutually reinforcing goals,” she said, adding that the EU expects Miqati’s cabinet to uphold all its international obligations.
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