Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri slammed on Friday Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s recent speech on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, saying that it reflected his annoyance with the decision to fund the tribunal.

He said in a statement: “A thousand speeches like Nasrallah’s will not eliminate Lebanon’s recognition of the STL.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has stressed that he holds onto his alliance with Premier Najib Miqati in the cabinet, refuting reports about a change in his stances.

“I am part of the broad alliance with PM Najib Miqati,” Jumblat was quoted by al-Akhbar daily as saying on Friday.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon stressed on Thursday that the so-called false witnesses issue was not under its jurisdiction, shortly after Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the government should deal with the file.

Testimony given to the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission “before the STL existed, is not under our jurisdiction,” the tribunal said on twitter.

The March 14 forces snapped back at Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah hinting that he had no constitutional authority to give instructions to Premier Najib Miqati.

“We know that he isn’t a constitutional expert but he should know that the constitution clearly states that any grant or donation to the Lebanese state which is approved by the cabinet becomes treasury money,” senior March 14 sources told An Nahar daily on Friday.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel hailed on Thursday Lebanon’s funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, saying that it saved Lebanon “from a number of dangers that were threatening it.”

He told Voice of Lebanon radio: “We want the government to recognize the principle of justice, especially the STL, and hopefully it will exert efforts to arrest the four suspects wanted by the tribunal.”

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon received on Thursday Lebanon’s contribution to its budget, it announced in a statement.

“The STL thanks the government of Lebanon for the full payment for 2011, which we received Thursday morning,” it added.

The head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora stated on Thursday that Christians in Lebanon and the Arab world have long been pioneers in committing to democracy.

He said after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at Bkirki: “The democratic changes in the Arab world therefore help bolster the role of Lebanon and its Christians.”

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon telephoned PM Najib Miqati congratulating him on his decision to transfer the funds to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the premier’s office said Thursday.

It said in a statement that Ban stressed to Miqati his support to exerted efforts to grantee stability and peace in Lebanon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Thursday Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s decision to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, criticizing however some reactions from the opposition, which he deemed unreasonable.

He said in a statement: “Some opposition members should have reacted to it positively rather than focusing on their personal interests.”

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali said on Thursday that paying Lebanon’s share of funds for the U.N.-backed court probing the murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri is a Lebanese affair, praising any effort that fortifies Lebanon against the Israeli threats.

“Concerning the STL, it’s a Lebanese affair… We bless any effort that strengthens Lebanon and stabilizes it,” Ali added after a meeting with ex-PM Omar Karami.