Security Council Resolution Calling for Tribunal in Hariri Assassination (ML)

The United States, Britain and France on Thursday formally introduced a resolution in the U.N. Security Council that calls for the establishment of an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. The resolution mandates the creation of a tribunal outside Lebanon with international judges and an international prosecutor under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which addresses threats to international peace and security. I've attached the full text of the draft resolution below.

The Security Council,

Pp1 Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 1595 (2005) of 7 April 2005, 1636 (2005) of 31 October 2005, 1644 (2005) of 15 December 2005, 1664 (2006) of 29 March 2006 and 1748 (2007) of 27 March 2007,

Pp2 Reaffirming its strongest condemnation of the 14 February 2005 terrorist bombings as well as other attacks in Lebanon since October 2004,

Pp3 Reiterating its call for the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon,

Pp4 Recalling the letter of the Prime Minister of Lebanon to the Secretary General of 13 December 2005 (S/2005/783) requesting inter alia the establishment of a tribunal of an international character to try all those who are found responsible for this terrorist crime, and the request by this Council for the Secretary-General to negotiate an agreement with the Government of Lebanon aimed at establishing such a Tribunal based on the highest international standards of criminal justice

Pp5 Recalling further the report of the Secretary-General on the establishment of a special tribunal for Lebanon on 15 November 2006 (S/2006/893) reporting on the conclusion of negotiations and consultations that took place between January 2006 and September 2006 at United Nations Headquarter in New York, the Hague, and Beirut between the Legal Counsel of the United Nations and authorized representatives of the Government of Lebanon, and the letter of its President to the Secretary General of 21 November 2006 (S/2006/911) reporting that the members of the Security Council welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations and that they were satisfied with the Agreement annexed to the Report,

Pp6 Recalling that, as set out in its letter of 21 November 2006, should voluntary contributions be insufficient for the Tribunal to implement its mandate, the Secretary-General and the Security Council shall explore alternate means of financing the Tribunal

Pp7 Recalling also that the Agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for Lebanon was signed by the Government of Lebanon and the UN respectively on 23 January and 6 February 2007,

Pp8 Referring to the letter of the Prime Minister of Lebanon to the Secretary General of the United Nations (S/XXX), which recalled that the parliamentary majority has expressed its support for the Tribunal, and asked that his request that the Special Tribunal be put into effect be presented to the Council as a matter of urgency,

Pp9 Mindful of the demand of the Lebanese people that all those responsible for the terrorist bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and others be identified and brought to justice,

Pp10 Commending the Secretary General for his continuing efforts to proceed, together with the Government of Lebanon, with the final steps for the conclusion of the Agreement as requested in the letter of its President dated 21 November 2006 and referring in this regard to the briefing by the Legal Counsel on 2 May 2007, in which he noted that the establishment of the Tribunal through the Constitutional process is facing serious obstacles, but noting also that all parties concerned reaffirmed their agreement in principle to the establishment of the Tribunal,

Pp11 Commending also the recent efforts of parties in the region to overcome these obstacles,

Pp12 Willing to continue to assist Lebanon in the search for the truth and in holding all those involved in the terrorist attack accountable and reaffirming its determination to support the Government of Lebanon in its efforts to bring to justice perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this and other assassinations,

Pp13 Reaffirming its determination that this terrorist act and its implications constitute a threat to international peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of United Nations,

1.  Decides that the provisions of the attached Agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for Lebanon, signed by the United Nations and the Government of Lebanon, including the Statute attached to it, shall enter into force upon adoption of the present resolution;

2. Decides further that if the Secretary General reports that the Headquarters Agreement has not been concluded as envisioned under Article 8 of the Agreement, the location of the seat of the Tribunal shall be determined in consultation with the Government of Lebanon and be subject to the conclusion of a Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the State that hosts the Tribunal;

3.  Decides further that if the Secretary-General reports that contributions from the Government of Lebanon are not sufficient to bear the expenses described in Article 5(b) of the Agreement, he may accept or use voluntary contributions from States to cover any shortfall;

4.  Requests the Secretary General, in coordination, when appropriate, with the Government of Lebanon, to undertake the steps and measures necessary to establish the Special Tribunal in a timely manner and to report to he Council within 90 days and thereafter periodically with respect to his efforts;

5.  Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Comments

[Theway2k]

By the time everything and everyone is assembled (i.e. if the Resolution passes the Security Council), Syria or Iran will own the government of Lebanon with a puppet government operated by Hezbollah.

The Resolution will be another meaningless United Nations pretense to produce an image that the useless body has clout.

It will be fascinating how long Russia or China prolong debate to enable Syria and Iran to shore up their control of Lebanon.