The UN Security Council welcomed on Thursday a report from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that showed he was making "substantial progress" in setting up an international tribunal to try those responsible for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
After the 15-member body was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel, Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the council president for March, read out a press statement saying that Ban's efforts in establishing the court were "based on the highest international standards of criminal justice."
"The members of the Security Council noted the substantial progress that has been made, in particular the signing of the Headquarters agreement between the United Nations and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the appointment of the Prosecutor, as well as of the Registrar of the Special Tribunal and the establishment of the Management Committee," Churkin said.
The council also welcomed the contributions and pledges received and expressed support for the secretary-general's efforts to continue to seek the necessary funds from member states.
The council encouraged the secretary-general to "continue to undertake, in coordination, when appropriate, with the Government of Lebanon, the steps and measures necessary to establish the Special Tribunal in a timely manner."
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Michel said that 60.3 million U.S. dollars had been received as of today, in both contributions and pledges.
In addition, Michel said he could not predict when the tribunal would actually begin trying cases, but he said that decision would be made by the secretary-general based on funding, consultation with the Lebanese government and progress in the related international investigation.
Source:Xinhua
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