Ashton Wraps Up Lebanon Visit by Urging New Govt to Uphold STL

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday urged Lebanon's next cabinet to remain committed to the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the 2005 assassination of ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri.

"I encouraged them to guarantee Lebanon's commitment to abide with ... its international obligations," said Ashton after talks with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and prime minister designate Najib Miqati.

The European Union expects Miqati's incoming government to abide by all U.N. Security Council resolutions, "including those relating to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon," said Ashton.

"I made the point that the EU is looking forward to a government program which will take on board these elements and advance Lebanon's reform agenda," Ashton told reporters at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport.

Outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri, son of the slain premier, has been at loggerheads with Hizbullah for months over the tribunal, leading to the collapse in January of his unity government.

The Shiite armed group, which has accused the tribunal of being a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy, has said it would defend itself if it is named in any indictments.

Hariri said on Monday, the sixth anniversary of his father's death in a suicide bombing along Beirut's seafront, he would not join the cabinet of Miqati, who was appointed prime minister with Hizbullah's support.

Earlier Wednesday, Ashton called for a speedy formation of the new government, stressing the need to move forward toward a new phase.

Ashton's remarks came after talks with Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Before meeting Berri, Ashton, who was accompanied by Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst, held talks with Miqati who reiterated Lebanon's keenness on respecting Security Council resolutions, particularly 1701.

Miqati also stressed Lebanon's keenness on security in south Lebanon and the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

He told Ashton that he is doing his best to form an all-embracing government.

Miqati expressed hope that EU states would judge Lebanon according to the positions and performance of the new government and not according to prior beliefs that do not correspond to reality.