Hizbullah Questions French Cooperation With Hariri Probe

Source: Al Manar TV, 09-04-2008
Member of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Hasan Fadlallah dismissed French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's positions Tuesday, saying that the French diplomat seems to be used to offer "prescriptions" unfounded on sound diagnosis.
"Instead of such prescriptions that result in complicating the ongoing Lebanese crisis, Kouchner should have shown us the real position and role France has to play in dealing with outstanding issues in the region," MP Fadlallah stressed in a statement.
MP Fadlallah wondered why Kouchner did not reveal the real reasons that prompted his country to hide the so called "king witness" in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri case, Mohamed Zuheir Siddiq, and turn down Lebanon's many requests to extradite him. "Does Mr Kouchner think that just being sorry and saying that he had no information about the circumstances of Siddiq's disappearance would make the world believe that Siddiq has really disappeared without the knowledge of the country that was hosting and protecting him?," he asked.
MP Fadlallah also said in his statement that Kouchner's position raised many questions particularly on the Frances cooperation with the international investigation panel into the Hariri murder case. "Kouchner didn't tell us whether France's enthusiasm to facilitate the investigation was still the same". Fadlallah also asked whether France was hiding information that could influence the course of the investigation or whether there had been collision with local parties interested in diverting the probe from its normal course to prevent it from reaching the aimed for truth.
The Hizbullah MP concluded his statement by calling Lebanese judicial authorities to assume their responsibilities and release the four officers detained over the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri case.
The officers have been detained without charge since 2005 based on the false testimony of Siddiq.