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Investigators of Hariri Murder Want More Information from Syria

16 March 2006

Inquiry needs substantive cooperation, U.S. Ambassador Bolton says

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- Despite pledges of cooperation, Syria has yet to provide any substantive information to U.N. investigators on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the head of the inquiry said.

Hariri was killed in a bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 14, 2005. On April 7, 2005, the U.N. Security Council authorized an independent international investigation. (See related article.)

In his first report to the Security Council since replacing Detlev Mehlis as head of the International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), Serge Brammertz said that "improved and timely cooperation from Syria will be a critical factor in continuing successfully the work of the commission."

Brammertz, who met with the Security Council in both a public session and a closed-door meeting March 16, said that the commission has reached agreement with Syria on "the legal framework for their cooperation" and that agreement "will be tested in the upcoming months."

The commission plans to seek “full, unhindered and direct access to documents, facilities and sites, in the presence of commission officials," according to Brammertz.

After a private meeting with Brammertz on March 15, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said "agreement in principle doesn't really mean anything.  Performance is what we're looking for."

The UNIIIC report "makes it clear that despite what they [Syrians officials] have said about cooperation, the real question is whether they are going to cooperate or whether they will continue to obstruct.  That remains to be seen," Bolton said, adding, "It is not a question of more words from Syria -- we've had a lot of words -- we want performance and we'll see what happens."

NEW REQUEST SUBMITTED TO SYRIA

Brammertz said that the commission has prepared several new requests for the Syrian Foreign Ministry.  "The coming weeks will prove whether our requirements will be fulfilled and our cautious optimism was justified," he added.

In the past three months Syria has "formally complied with nearly all of the commission's previous requests for assistance" such as reviewing military intelligence archives for records on the Lebanese political situation, he said. Those documents currently are being reviewed for their relevance to the investigation.

Nevertheless, "it is important to note that the commission will ultimately judge cooperation of the Syrian authorities on the merits of the information provided and the promptness with which its requests are being accommodated," Brammertz said.

The commissioner said investigators have made progress in understanding the crime, its circumstances and modus operandi which, he expects, "will provide critical links in identifying and holding accountable those responsible at all levels of the chain of command."

To safeguard the integrity of the ongoing investigation "and to avoid revealing our strategy," the commission has agreed with the prosecutor-general of Lebanon "not to publicly discuss details" at this stage, Brammertz said.

UNIIIC expects the investigation will lead to trial and "it is critical that we respect the rights of the defense and not jeopardize the security of witnesses or other sensitive sources," Brammertz added.

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