Hizbollah unwilling to discuss int''l tribunal with UN envoy

Hizbollah unwilling to discuss int'l tribunal with UN envoy BEIRUT, April 18 (KUNA) -- Hizbollah informed on Wednesday the UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicholas Michel that it would give its ideas on the international tribunal only within the framework of a special committee as part of an overall Lebanese agreement.
A statement issued by Hizbollah said that the idea of the international tribunal should be vetted by "a constitutional government" and asked the UN to assist Lebanon in accepting such a tribunal rather than taking sides over this issue.
Hizbollah cautioned the UN against getting involved in the nitty-gritty of domestic Lebanese politics, if it really sought a stable Lebanon.
Recently Hizbollah's secretary general Hassan Nasrallah had launched a scathing attack against the notion of the international tribunal, which is a bone of contention between the majority MPs and their opposition in the parliament.
Michel's mission is to meet government and opposition leaders and encourage the two sides to renew dialogue and accept parliamentary ratification of a Lebanon-UN agreement to set up the international court or tribunal.
The United Nations and Lebanon's government have signed a deal to set up the tribunal, but it must be ratified by the country's divided parliament.
Yesterday Michel held talks with Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a leading member of the opposition.
Lebanon's government has called for the UN Security Council to impose the setting up of the tribunal, endorsed under its Resolution 1595, if the pro-Syrian opposition continues to block its establishment.
If no Lebanese consensus materializes over the international court the UN security council could interfere and adopt the court without the approval of the Lebanese government by citing the mandatory Seventh Chapter. (pickup previous) an.ajs KUNA 190047 Apr 07NNNN