UN Hariri court raises stakes for Syria

DAMASCUS – Syria is digging its heels in for a long confrontation with the United Nations after the Security Council voted to set up a special court to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik al-Hariri.

The Security Council passed the resolution on Wednesday, invoking Chapter 7 of the UN Charter to enforce the court’s establishment; this despite Syrian warnings the tribunal could destabilise Lebanon further and violate Syrian sovereignty if it indicted Syrian officials. “Syria has made clear it would not hand over any suspects.We are looking at a clash that could result in the United Nations seeking to deprive Syria of legitimacy, just like Iraq,” Ayman Abdel-Nour, publisher of the All4Syria newsletter, said.”There is one view that a political deal between Syria and America over the court is still possible, but I doubt it,” he told Reuters.”This court will have international judges who won’t risk their reputation.”Once the court starts, no one can predict an ending.”The United States, which was behind the resolution along with Britain and France, has long demanded that Syria abandon its support for the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas groups and do more to help stabilise Iraq.A UN investigation, now led by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz, has implicated senior Lebanese and Syrian security officials in the 2005 killing of Hariri in Beirut.Syria denies involvement.Nampa-Reuters”Syria has made clear it would not hand over any suspects.We are looking at a clash that could result in the United Nations seeking to deprive Syria of legitimacy, just like Iraq,” Ayman Abdel-Nour, publisher of the All4Syria newsletter, said.”There is one view that a political deal between Syria and America over the court is still possible, but I doubt it,” he told Reuters.”This court will have international judges who won’t risk their reputation.”Once the court starts, no one can predict an ending.”The United States, which was behind the resolution along with Britain and France, has long demanded that Syria abandon its support for the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas groups and do more to help stabilise Iraq.A UN investigation, now led by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz, has implicated senior Lebanese and Syrian security officials in the 2005 killing of Hariri in Beirut.Syria denies involvement.Nampa-Reuters