Briefing on the Assassination of Lebanese Cabinet Minister Pierre Gemayel and Establishment of a Tribunal

USUN PRESS RELEASE #349

Reporter: What is your understanding, does this require an immediate [inaudible]

Ambassador Bolton: Stop a second. We are very pleased at the adoption of the Presidential Statement on the tragic assassination of Pierre Gemayel. And we are also glad the Council has two hours early, agreed on text of the letter from the President of the Security Council to the Secretary General affirming that the Security Council supports the text of the agreement and proposed statute of the Hariri tribunal. We think this is an important signal to send in support of the democratic forces in Lebanon. So we are quite pleased at this outcome today, occasioned, as it is, by very tragic circumstances in Lebanon.

Reporter: Ambassador, was there discussion of the possible involvement of Syria in the political strife in Lebanon?

Ambassador Bolton: There was no discussion in the Council today, we were focused on agreeing on the text of the Presidential Statement, which the President, Ambassador Voto-Bernales has just read and on reaching agreement on text of the letter which he will send to the SG.

Reporter: Ambassador, do you believe there is involvement by Syria in this assassination?

Ambassador Bolton: I think we need to find out all of the facts, but you can take a look at the pattern of who gets assassinated in Lebanon.

Reporter: Ambassador, the Qatari ambassador issued this letter saying that the President of Lebanon has to approve this. Is that your understanding of the constitutional process?

Ambassador Bolton: You know, I addressed this in the Council and what I said is that the letter reflects the national position of Qatar. And I pointed out that it is an operational fact, when treaties or international agreements come into force, that the governments that are participating in the agreements send letters, usually diplomatic notes, attesting that they have complied with all of their requisite constitutional provisions and that therefore the agreement can enter into force. And indeed, that precise principle is provided for in the draft agreement -- I think in Article 18.

So the fact is, it is up to the government of Lebanon to decide what its constitutional procedures are and to notify -- in this case, the other party to the agreement, the United Nations -- that it has complied with its constitutional procedures, and that, therefore, if the government of Lebanon agrees to the text that the agreement will enter into force. That's a fact, that's what happens all the time and it's up to the government of Lebanon. It doesn't matter what my interpretation of the constitution of Lebanon is or anybody else's; it's up to the Lebanese.

Reporter: (Inaudible) government in Lebanon?

Ambassador Bolton: We support the democratic forces in Lebanon and their efforts to maintain the rule of law and democracy.

Reporter: Wasn't 1559 originally enacted after an attempt by pro-Syrian forces in Lebanon to change the constitution and extend the term of President Lahoud?

Ambassador Bolton: There are a lot of things I could say about President Lahoud, notably the direction that he takes from the government of Syria. But the point is in connection with this agreement the issue of when the government of Lebanon will consider it having entered into force, if they approve it, will be an issue for the government of Lebanon. And that is something that I think is consistent with international practice and its consistent with the draft agreement that we just approved.

Reporter: Ambassador, given the turmoil in Lebanon what do you think the possibilities are that this Tribunal will become reality?

Ambassador Bolton: Well we're going to press ahead with it. We think the government of Lebanon is committed to it. We think that all of the factions in Lebanon have said they want the Tribunal. The negotiators were appointed by a meeting chaired by President Lahoud. The negotiators include several senior Lebanese judges. It's a good agreement and we are perfectly satisfied with it. We hope that the government of Lebanon is able to follow through on its constitutional procedures and they'll make their decision. That's what happens in constitutional democracies.

Reporter: (inaudible) committee to investigate this crime also so that there would be 15 assassinations…

Ambassador Bolton: We would certainly support that, yes. We are looking at exactly what steps need to be taken, but certainly we would support whatever mechanism we need to put in place. If you look at the pattern of these terrorist assassinations we think this clearly fits within it and, sadly, would make sense to expand the UNIIIC's authority. Anything else? One more.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Bolton: The draft agreement provides that the parties, with the approval of the Security Council, can have the Tribunal expanded its temporal jurisdiction to cover other assassinations. We certainly support that. We think that's a logical precept. We'll have to wait and see how the investigation develops. Obviously we can't pre-judge it from here.

Okay, thanks a lot.