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| Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein |
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UN Security Council urges Syria to fully cooperate in probe of Hariri murder August 26, 2005 AFP The UN Security Council called on Syria to fully cooperate with the international probe into the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri, with the United States calling Damascus' stance "unacceptable". The council did not actually name Syria but in a statement read by its president, Japan's UN envoy Kenzo Oshima, it said: "The members of the Council reiterated their call on all states and all parties, especially those who are yet to respond adequately, to cooperate fully in order to expedite the work of the (enquiry) commission." But US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton did not mince his words, telling reporters after the council session: "Let there be no ambiguity about the American view that Syria's lack of cooperation is not acceptable." Earlier the council heard a briefing from UN Under Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari on a progress report on the work of the enquiry commission looking into the murder. "There is no doubt, from the briefing that we received today, that Syria's lack of cooperation with the Mehlis investigation has considerably slowed down the Mehlis commission's work. This lack of cooperation is unacceptable," Bolton said. Gambari meanwhile said the head of the commission, German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, "has significantly advanced the course of the investigation." "I am pleased to report that Jordan and Israel have reacted positively to the commission 's requests for assistance," Gambari said. He pointed out that the commission had also sent a request to Damascus on July 19 asking for the interviews of five witnesses and for providing documents until the end of July. "No reply has been received (from Syria)," Gambari said. He said it would be premature to reveal details of the investigation, while its work was still in progress. Gambari noted that Syria's UN envoy Fayssal Mekdad Faysal Mekdad had approached Mehlis through the UN here to express his country's readiness to open discussions with the commission. But the under secretary general made clear that discussions could replace the requested assistance for the purpose of the investigation. "Mr. Mehlis is therefore of the opinion that the lack of timely response by the Syrian Aran Republic has considerably slowed down the commission's work." Diplomatic sources said France, which drafted the text of the council statement, had named Syria in the initial draft but several countries, including Algeria and Russia, objected to an explicit mention. Michel Duclos, the number two at France's UN mission, said the council statement was "carefully crafted but very clear that one of the parties that was invited to cooperate did not cooperate." Gambari meanwhile said that Mehlis did not formally seek an extension of the mandate of his commission, which expires on September 15. But diplomats said an extension of the mandate was discussed in council consultations with a general agreement to support one if necessary. Mekdad again reaffirmed Damascus' pledge to cooperate with the enquiry commission. Hariri was assassinated in a massive bomb blast on the Beirut seafront in February, sparking massive popular protests against alleged Syrian involvement in the killing and eventually leading to the departure of Syrian troops. Damascus has vehemently denied any involvement. Mehlis has interviewed more than 110 witnesses, including former presidential guard commander General Mustafa Hamdan, who was criticised for destroying evidence at the scene of the crime. Syria dominated political affairs in its smaller neighbour from the end of the 1975-1990 civil war until thousands of troops and intelligence officers finally left after a 29-year presence in April. |
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