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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Russia opposed to politicizing Hariri probe |
| 2006-12-15 |
| (Itar-Tass) - Moscow is opposed to politicizing the investigation into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and believes the issue should keep strictly within legal framework, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov stated to Russian reporters here on Tuesday. "Russia has always called for solving the crime, carrying the probe through, ascertaining the truth and holding the perpetrators responsible," Saltanov said. The diplomat underlined that "in the absence of facts, a priori accusations of unlawful actions, thrown against this or that country, organization or person would be incorrect and even dangerous." On November 21, the UN Security Council agreed with the proposals by the UN secretary general on the parameters of international tribunal for investigation into the murder of Hariri. The UN SC members approved a draft agreement between the UN and the Lebanese government on setting such a tribunal, as well as its tentative status. The approval of the draft document on setting up the tribunal worsened the political crisis in Lebanon, because the government led by Fuad Siniora approved it only after the collective resignation of six ministers - five Shiites and one Christian. Saltanov noted that the main thing for Russia is that "the basic documents which will make groundwork for the operation of the international tribunal on the Hariri case, be legally clean, and not create unwanted precedents in international law." "We also drew attention to the necessity to move on to the setting up of tribunal in such a way so that it doesn't create heavy overloads of the domestic situation in Lebanon," the Russian diplomat said. "Regrettably, this is what has happened," Saltanov added. He did not rule out that it might have become a reason behind the current aggravation of the situation in Lebanon. At the same time, the deputy foreign minister underlined that the current crisis in Lebanon reflects "more complex process in the country and around it." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Even some of the Russia-philic pundits on WARFARE.ru, PRAVDA forum, and RED STAR have articles = commentaries complaining about Putin + Russia. Generally RUSSIA-PHILES > RUSSIA IS HEADING DOWN THE PATH TOWARDS BECOMING A GIANT, NORTH KOREA-esque, REGIONAL + GLOBAL CRIMINAL STATE, iff not the Cold War USSR re-incarnated. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-12-15 00:55 |