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UNSC fails to issue press statement on 3rd anniversary of Hariri's murder
The Security Council on Thursday failed to issue a French-drafted press statement on the third anniversary of Rafiq Hariri's assassination because some council members believed the draft focuses too much on the Special Tribunal and others said the situation in Lebanon is too tense and the council cannot afford to issue anything at this time.The council would have reaffirmed its "strongest condemnation" of the terrorist bombings that killed Hariri and others in 2005, paid tribute to their memory and "reiterated their condemnation of all targeted assassinations of Lebanese leaders and officials, particularly since 2004." It would also welcome the "decisive landmarks, including towards meeting budgetary requirements, as well as the Secretary-General's belief in the irreversibility of the establishment of the Tribunal." It would further call for the holding "without delay" of a free and fair presidential election in conformity with Lebanese constitutional rules, "without any foreign interference or influence," and with full respect for democratic institutions. A council member belonging to the Non-Aligned Movement told KUNA the situation in Lebanon "is tense enough. We don't need such a statement. What will it add?" Another diplomat said it focuses too much on the Special Tribunal to prosecute the suspects in Hariri's assassination. Posted by: Seafarious 2008-02-15 |
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