Walid Jumblat, who arrived in New York on Monday, discussed with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and other U.N. officials ways to speed up the establishment of the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.Upon arrival in Washington, Jumblat said efforts to set up the Special Tribunal for Lebanon were satisfactory. He said the majority March 14 alliance does not object to reaching consensus over a head of state, but stressed that "this president must respect international resolutions, including 1559 and 1701," which call for the disarmament of Hizbullah and other armed groups. "The president should adhere to the principles of the Cedar Revolution, sovereignty, independence and free choice," Jumblat added.
Jumblat's visit, during which he hopes to rally U.S. support for the Cedar Revolution, comes ahead of a parliamentary session scheduled for Oct. 23 to elect a new president for Lebanon.