Syria fully cooperated with international investigation, UN

Syria on Tuesday renewed condemnation of the assassination of Lebanese former Premier Rafiq al-Hariri and the recent bomb explosion which claimed the life of Lebanese Parliamentarian Jubran Tweini.

This came in a statement of Syria's Permanent Envoy to the United Nations Faisal Mekdad at a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the second report of the international investigation committee into the assassination of Hariri." Discussing the second report of the international committee is a new opportunity for Syria to express commitment to cooperate with the Committee.. Syria exerts every possible effort to facilitate the mission of the committee in order to best fulfill its duty," he added.

"In this context, we disagree with what has been stated in the report which refers to slowness in the cooperation... but, on the contrary, Syria has permanently made contacts with the Committee," Syria's envoy said. "The international committee's non- recognition of the Syrian judicial committee has led to a delay... and contrary to what has been laid in item 30 of the report, the Syrian committee has done its duties," Mekdad said.

He added that to assert cooperation with Mehlis team, Syria has told the Committee that Syrian Foreign Minister welcomes the meeting with Mehlis in Damascus or in Europe. "The second report is based on the results of the previous report which was also based on suggestions and prearranged accusations without offering hard evidences," Mekdad said. He added that Syria, who had fully cooperated with the international committee, stresses once again willingness to cooperate during the next stage.