Miqati, Berri Cooperating to Settle STL Clause that Won’t ‘Provoke’ International Community

Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri are likely to reach an appropriate phrasing of the clause on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the government policy statement that would not “antagonize” the international community, a ministerial sources told the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat in remarks published on Sunday.

It added that Hizbullah would be able to “bear such a phrasing” until February 2012 when the cooperation agreement between Lebanon and the STL expires, which the new government will likely not renew.

“There is therefore no need for a disagreement to emerge in the new government over the STL as long as there is an agreement to deal with its requests when the time comes,” it continued.

Meanwhile, March 14 sources told the daily that the camp is suspicious of Miqati’s statements that will “respect” international agreements instead of “committing” to them.

On the other hand, ministerial sources said that respecting the agreements doesn’t mean avoiding them.

They stated that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat agrees with the premier’s approach to the tribunal, explaining that as long as Hizbullah is confident of its abilities to overcome the indictment, then there is no need to fear it.