The head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora stated on Thursday that Christians in Lebanon and the Arab world have long been pioneers in committing to democracy.

He said after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at Bkirki: “The democratic changes in the Arab world therefore help bolster the role of Lebanon and its Christians.”

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon telephoned PM Najib Miqati congratulating him on his decision to transfer the funds to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the premier’s office said Thursday.

It said in a statement that Ban stressed to Miqati his support to exerted efforts to grantee stability and peace in Lebanon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Thursday Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s decision to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, criticizing however some reactions from the opposition, which he deemed unreasonable.

He said in a statement: “Some opposition members should have reacted to it positively rather than focusing on their personal interests.”

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali said on Thursday that paying Lebanon’s share of funds for the U.N.-backed court probing the murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri is a Lebanese affair, praising any effort that fortifies Lebanon against the Israeli threats.

“Concerning the STL, it’s a Lebanese affair… We bless any effort that strengthens Lebanon and stabilizes it,” Ali added after a meeting with ex-PM Omar Karami.

The Free Patriotic Movement has given its consent to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to avert the collapse of the government although it was not yet clear on Thursday if it agreed to the way the transfer was made.

“The citizens’ problems are more important than the funding of the tribunal,” Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud, who is loyal to FPM chief Michel Aoun, said on Thursday.

The head of the Higher Relief Council denied on Thursday that the funds of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon were transferred from the budget of the HRC.

In remarks to al-Akhbar daily, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Bashir said the payment of Lebanon’s share to the STL was not done through the Council.

Thousands of phone calls, text messages and tweets poured on Premier Najib Miqati upon his announcement that he had transferred funds to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a move which he hoped would receive the support of the Lebanese political leaderships.

“Some of the analyses that appeared today about my move are untrue and not accurate,” Miqati told his visitors on Thursday, reiterating that his approval of the transfer of funds was a “national decision stemming from his patriotic and personal convictions.”

Israeli Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said Wednesday that the Jewish state has the ability to hit targets deep inside Lebanon and Syria.

Israel has airpower and the intelligence ability “to hit launch sites everywhere -- from a range of a few kilometers in Gaza and Lebanon to a range of hundreds of kilometers deep in Lebanon and Syria," Vilnai said.

Canada's opposition decried Wednesday its federal police having a hand in the arrest in Lebanon of a Canadian potato farmer for allegedly selling "dangerous" spuds to Algeria.

Henk Tepper, 44, one of Canada's largest potato farmers, was arrested on an international warrant in March while on a trade mission organized by Canada's agriculture department.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly welcomed on Wednesday Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s announcement that he had transferred funds Lebanon is obligated to pay to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, said the U.S. Embassy in a statement.

She noted that Lebanon’s commitments to the tribunal extend beyond the issue of funding alone.