Hariri tribunal seeks help from Lebanon neighbours

AFP, here

"THE HAGUE (AFP) — The head of the court created to try the killers of Lebanon's Rafiq Hariri said Friday he wanted a deal with countries in the region, including Syria, to simplify the surrender of suspects.

"I have already prepared a draft agreement on judicial cooperation which should be offered to all the countries of the region: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Israel," Antonio Cassese told AFP...

The tribunal currently has no suspects in custody since ordering the release last week of four pro-Syrian generals held by Lebanon for nearly four years without charge.

The accord envisaged by Cassese would allow prosecutors to interview witnesses in third countries, to have suspects summoned to The Hague for questioning, and facilitate the transfer of accused persons.

It aims to find a way round the fact that the national laws of some countries prevent them from surrendering suspects without an extradition treaty.

It would also be submitted to countries like France, the United States and Argentina that have large Lebanese communities, Cassese said.

"That does not mean that we expect there is a suspect or witness or fugitive (there)," said the judge, at the seat of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon at Leidschendam near The Hague.

He added that "probably, many countries will never accept" the agreement, and may prefer to work with the tribunal on a case-by-case basis which would be "less quick, but not impossible"....

Cassese said he would visit Beirut in June or July, after the Lebanese parliamentary elections, for a courtesy call on the new government and talks with lawyers and judges about the tribunal's rules and procedures.He had no plans to visit Syria."