Syria on cooperation with Hariri investigation
Syria-Lebanon-UN, Politics, 3/17/2006

Syria reiterated on Thursday that she would continue cooperation with the international investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri due to her keenness on revealing the truth of the crime.

Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad said in a speech at the UN Security Council session to listen to the report of head of the international investigating committee Serge Brammerz, this report presented to the UN Security Council moves the investigation into a new phase of the crime of assassinating president Hariri.

He added we hope that this phase would help disclose the truth of parties responsible for this crime and other crimes that took place in Lebanon.

Miqdad noted that the most dangerous thing the investigation has faced was some parities jumping to conclusion and its process with the aim of reaching to precedent conclusions that are not based on firm proofs and evidences.

"We confirm joint understanding pointed out by the report between Syria and the investigation committee and say they take into consideration the Syrian legal and judicial mandate and that they car about the national sovereignty demands," Deputy Minister said.

He added Syria has fully and continuously cooperated with the independent international committee since it started its work, and in this respect, the special judicial committee formed in Syria is ready to coordinate and cooperate with the international committee and to respond to all demands of help extended to it.

Miqdad said Syria sees that the Syrian judicial committee ability to respond to aid requests is linked to a great extent to the clarity and accuracy of help demands extended to it by the committee and its need for data connected to some elements of the investigation related to Syria.

Deputy Foreign Minister said the report pointed out in framework of the cooperation between Syria and the international investigation committee to Syria's response to demands presented to her by the committee in field of giving information and documents stressing we underline to your respectable council Syria nonstop in exerting her efforts in this respect.

Miqdad pointed that it was proved that some of the witnesses in these investigations made false testimonies that aimed to delude the investigation and push it into tracks based on well-known political purposes saying we are full of hope that the committee headed by its new commissioner would modify its pursuing of these tracks.

He said "we are aspiring that the international committee would continue the new investigation lines, the standing report has pointed to, and in this respect we underline what the UN Security Council resolution 1595 stipulated of calling all states to cooperate with the international investigation committee to aid in divulging the truth of assassinating the late Rafiq al-Hariri."

Miqdad noted with relief that the principal of the investigation secrecy has been dealt with in a professional way and that is what we applaud and emphasize the need to continue.

Deputy Foreign Minister turned attention of the UN Security Council to gravity of some circles bid to make use of this cooperation between Syria and the international investigation to inflict damage to Syria's aim of this cooperation and to get special political ends.

"We underline in this respect that Syria's cooperation is emerging from total keenness on revealing the truth due to its posing in the heart of the Syrian interest," Miqdad said.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian president to meet Hariri assassination investigators   (3/16/2006)
  UN report on Hariri murder, part 1 full text   (3/16/2006)
  Syria welcomes UN report on Hariri assassination   (3/16/2006)

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