Amid accusations that Damascus is trying to delay the UN probe into the murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Faisal Mekdad said the work of the international committee "could take years" to be concluded.
"How many years?"
"Coupla hundred, prob'ly." |
 In an interview with The Daily Star in New York, Mekdad said "the report, which was highly politicized, said the committee needed more time to continue its investigations, and this could take months, or even years." However, the ambassador stressed Syria's intention to fully cooperate with the investigation led by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis.
| "Oh, yassss! Full cooperation! That's our middle name!" |
Damscus has been under mounting pressure for failing to allow Mehlis to interview six of its top officials in Beirut, offering alternative locations being considered by the UN team. This has led to harsh criticism by U.S. officials, including U.S. Ambassador to the UN Darth Vader John Bolton, who said on Thursday the investigation's mandate was almost up while warning Syria against "failure to cooperate."
| "I find your lack of cooperation... disturbing. My patience is not infinite, young Mekdad!" |
Mekdad said Syria's refusal to allow its officials to be interrogated in Beirut was in both countries' best interests. "We believe this would create unfriendly feelings between the two countries. It is a formal issue that could negatively affect the relations between both countries. That is why we suggested the UN Disengagement Observer Force headquarters [in Syria's side of the Golan Heights], which is completely controlled by the UN," he said. Commenting on a possible mediator role for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan between Mehlis' commission and Syrian authorities, Mekdad said: "We hope that the UN will be able to solve this technical problem. We also have to keep in mind that what is important here is not the location, but the people being investigated, and Syria has agreed to that.". |