Cameron Meets Miqati, Urges Lebanon to Honor STL Obligations

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During talks with Premier Najib Miqati in London, British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday urged Lebanon to honor its international obligations concerning the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Cameron pressed Miqati on the “need for Lebanon to meet (its) international obligations on (the) Tribunal,” British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher said on his Twitter account after the two men’s meeting.

The two also agreed on the need to respect U.N. Security Council resolutions relating to the Middle East, Fletcher said.

For his part, Miqati tweeted that his meeting with Cameron was “excellent.” He described the talks as “a step in the right direction for UK-Lebanese bilateral relations.”

Miqati’s government has come under increasing Western pressure to fund the U.N.-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri.

Before the talks on Monday, Miqati’s press office said the premier would discuss with Cameron the situation in the region, bilateral ties and ways to receive British technical, administrative and military assistance.

Earlier on Monday, Miqati met with Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lord David Howell. He also discussed with Ambassador Fletcher the preparations for his meeting with the British PM.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman warned on Saturday that ties with Lebanon would suffer if Beirut fails to pay its share of funding to the tribunal.

"I’d expect the same thing in terms of some other countries as well," he said.

Lebanon is responsible for meeting 49 percent of the costs of the court. But the Hizbullah-led government has yet to pay its share, estimated at $33 million.

Miqati said Thursday that Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah did not rule out funding the STL.

“I did not conclude that (Nasrallah) said ‘no’ to the tribunal,” Miqati told the BBC.

In remarks to Lebanese personalities residing in Britain, the premier stressed Monday “the need to fully cooperate with international resolutions including 1757” that established the STL.

“We can’t be selective in asking the international community, the Security Council and the U.N. to support the full implementation of 1701 in southern Lebanon and at the same time say that we don’t want to implement another resolution,” he said.

“I am sure that the cabinet will be at the level of responsibility” when the STL funding is put up for discussion, Miqati said.

“Whenever we find a solution to the issue of Lebanon’s share in the STL funding … we could go ahead in resolving the remaining essential issues,” he said.

Miqati also urged the Lebanese to remain united and preserve the stability of the nation.

Comments 7
Default-user-icon marie (Guest) over 12 years

Miqati, where are you going to hide when they finish your friend Bashar and Hassouni???

Missing allouchi over 12 years

“I did not conclude that (Nasrallah) said ‘no’ to the tribunal,” what an idiot! Hizb, Aoun, Weam wahab and the rest of the M8 disgusting bunch said it loud and clear and you still refuse to get it? Mr. Mikati you speak with a forked tongue and cannot be trusted.

Default-user-icon Gabby (Guest) over 12 years

Are you the Prime Minister or aren't you? Why are you consulting with the organizer of the crime? State clearly: We will fund the court, they money is ready and will be sent immediately so Lebanon does not get damaged.

Default-user-icon Mehdi (Guest) over 12 years

It's not up to you to decide on how to cooperate or not to with the STL Mr Mikatri it's up to Sayed Hassan Nasrallah Lebanon's supreme leader.

Default-user-icon Neal (Guest) over 12 years

i don't know what rock this man is living under " Nesrallah did say NO to the funding " and the whole wold heard him and Aoun did say No to the STL let's keep pretending every thing is OK in Lebanon until it blows up in our face .

Thumb geha over 12 years

stop saying the same refrain: do it, and pay the money.

Thumb hakawati over 12 years

Lebanon should pay. Otherwise it becomes a no-fly zone and Cameron, Sarkozy, Obama and Netanyahu (the leader of the Zionist Boygroup for Lebanon - ZBL) bomb it back to the democratic stone age.