The Alrai newspaper has quoted a reliable Iranian source that the opposition wants to change the composition of the international tribunal so that majority of the judges are Lebanese and not foreigners. The purpose of the International Tribunal is to prosecute the killers of LebanonÂ’s prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in 2005 along with 22 others.
According to the source that wanted to remain anonymous for security purposes, a strategy meeting took place recently in Damascus to decide on this issue. The meeting was headed by Syrian General Mohammad Nassif ( Abu Wael) who is responsible for the opposition file in Lebanon and representatives from Amal and Hezbollah organizations. In the proposed International style tribunal , the number of judges will be 7 . 4 of the judges will be foreign nationals and the remaining three will be Lebanese citizens.
According to the most recent reports about the current talks between Speaker Nabih Berri and parliament majority leader Saad Hariri :1- Berri is offering to accept the international tribunal but with some modifications. He did not reveal the modifications , but specified as “ amendments that protect Lebanon’s sovereignty “ . According to the Iranian source, this means a “majority of Lebanese judges “.
2- Against acceptance of the tribunal by the opposition , Berri ‘s initiative calls for a government of 19 – 11 , meaning the opposition will have one third plus one minister to give it the power of veto in any government decision.
3- According to the Iranian source, since the opposition will have veto power , all the judges that have to be selected by the Lebanese government have to be approved by the opposition. This will allow the opposition to select judges that are friendly to Syria. The above plot according to the Iranian source is in accordance with the strategy that was decided in Damascus during the above mentioned recent meeting between the Syrians, Hezbollah and Amal. |