Some UNSC members urge co-sponsors to redraft text on Hariri Tribunal

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (KUNA) -- Some Security Council members, led by Russia and Qatar, on Friday said they have difficulty accepting the draft resolution seeking to establish the Hariri Tribunal under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter as it stands now and urged the co-sponsors to redraft it and come back after the weekend with a new text. The co-sponsors - France, UK and the US - tabled their draft resolution officially on Friday. Russia, Qatar, Indonesia and South Africa voiced opposition to the draft as it stands and made suggestions on how to improve it.
Qatari envoy Nassir A. Al-Nasser told KUNA "we want a draft resolution that brings peace to Lebanon and not to affect the situation there. They took all suggestions and said they will examine them and come back with a redrafted text".
He said his country is still trying with Lebanon to have the tribunal approved constitutionally.
Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin told reporters "we clearly identified fundamental differences which exist between us and we believe that until and unless those fundamental differences are resolved, there is no point in working on other less important elements of that resolution".
His main objection, he stressed, is the mention of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter which makes the establishment of the tribunal mandatory. Churkin said all Security Council resolutions are binding and therefore there is no point of mentioning Chapter 7.
He said his delegation expressed some concern on the legal ground and made some suggestions of how those concerns can be dealt with, describing some paragraphs of the draft as "very awkward, legally".
The other main objection, he said, is the clause in the draft which puts the agreement between Lebanon and the UN into force.
He said Russia also made the suggestion that "we are dealing with the republic of Lebanon, not just the government of Lebanon".
He said Russia also proposed a "grace period" after which the resolution is adopted and enters into force "in the hope and expectation that before that period ends the Lebanese will be able to ratify it in Lebanon." He did not specify how long the period would be.
China is also opposed to the text as it stands.
Council president US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters following the informal meeting that the draft's co-sponsors will meet later today to examine the suggestions proposed by council members, with a view to a vote may be early next week.
French envoy Jean Marc de la Sabliere told reporters that the draft is gaining more support with Slovakia joining the co-sponsors and Belgium is waiting for instructions to also join the four. (end) sj.ajs KUNA 252126 May 07NNNN