Opening Of The Special Tribunal For Lebanon
Robert Wood
Acting Department Spokesman, Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 1, 2009
Today’s opening of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon represents an important step toward justice in the 2005
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. His death —along with the deaths of other Lebanese
patriots — was an unsuccessful attempt to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty. The Lebanese people answered his
assassination with the Cedar Revolution, leading to the withdrawal of Syrian troops and the most democratic Lebanese
elections in decades.
The Tribunal is a clear signal that Lebanon’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. Moreover, we hope it will help deter
further violence and end a sad era of impunity. Too many Lebanese families have never seen justice for the murder of
their loved ones.
We applaud the brave and tireless work of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission and Lebanese
judicial authorities who have brought the investigation and Tribunal this far. We will continue to assist their efforts,
and recently pledged another $6 million, pending Congressional approval, towards the Tribunal’s operations in addition
to the $14 million already contributed.
ENDS