Military

07 April 2005

U.N. Security Council Orders Inquiry Into Hariri Assassination

Council establishes investigative commission by unanimous vote

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The Security Council April 7 authorized an independent international investigation into the February 14 terrorist bombing in Beirut that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

The resolution -- sponsored by Denmark, France, Greece, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States -- was adopted by a vote of 15 to 0.  It sets up an independent commission in Lebanon to help Lebanese authorities identify the perpetrators, sponsors, organizers, and accomplices in the attack, which killed Hariri and 14 others.  The commission is to report back to the council in three months.

U.S. Ambassador Stuart Holliday said that "the United States is pleased with the unanimous adoption" of the resolution.  "It is very important that the facts of this tragic event are known," he said.

U.S. officials were troubled by the report of the fact-finding mission set up by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and headed by Peter FitzGerald, Holliday said, adding:  "We want to get to the bottom of this assassination and what we believe to be a terrorist act."

FitzGerald's report, issued March 24, said that Lebanese security and Syrian military intelligence bear the primary responsibility for the lack of security in Lebanon and added that Syria bears primary responsibility for the political tensions that preceded the prime minister's assassination.  The U.N. mission also concluded that the initial Lebanese investigation "suffered from serious flaws."

"It is important to recognize that the Government of Lebanon has indicated that they will cooperate," Holliday said.   "We expect them to hold to their word and that includes all aspects of the Government of Lebanon."

In its resolution, the council also stated that the commission should be provided with the resources needed to complete its task and that commission members should be able to move freely throughout Lebanon.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)