Syria on Tuesday rebuffed UN accusations that it was hampering
an inquiry into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
al-Hariri and complained of violations in the questioning of five
officials.
"We disagree with the inaccurate remarks in the (UN) report that
indicate slowness on the part of Syria in offering full cooperation
with the work of the international investigation committee," it
said in a statement to the UN Security Council.
The statement, obtained by Reuters in Damascus, said the UN panel
had agreed to uphold guarantees set in international pacts for
questioning, "but the investigators did not adhere to these
principles in the investigation sessions in Vienna".
It said the British lawyers of the officials had complained to the
committee that their clients' testimonies were summarised and the
officials had signed them although they had no chance to verify
their remarks because they were documented in a language they did
not know.
The statement said Damascus had informed the panel that Syrian
Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara was willing to meet the head of
the UN investigation team in Damascus "or during one of his
official visits to Europe". It did not say what would be the
purpose of the meeting with German judge Detlev Mehlis, who is
heading the inquiry.
Syria "affirms its willingness to cooperate with the investigation
in the coming period, and calls upon your esteemed Council to take
into consideration the remarks in this statement", said the
statement.
Showdown shunned?
To avert a showdown with the world body, Syria has allowed UN
investigators to question five officials in Vienna.
Neither Syria nor the United Nations has identified the officials
questioned, but diplomatic sources say they included Lt. Gen.
Rustom Ghazali, Syria's former intelligence chief in Lebanon, Lt.
Gen. Thafer Youssef; Lt. Gen. Abdul-Karim Abbas; and Ghazali's
aide, Jamea Jamea.
Syria says its cooperation with the inquiry should prevent any
punitive action. The Security Council has warned of unspecified
action against Damascus if it fails to cooperate.
Syria criticised the report by Mehlis presented to the security
council on Monday and said it had shortcomings similar to those in
the initial report issued on October 25, which Syria slammed then
as politicised.
"The report reaffirms the conclusions upon which the previous
report was based, which were built on suspicion, therefore (making)
precast accusations before establishing evidence," it said. "The
criticism directed to the previous report applies to this
report."
Damascus denied allegations quoted in the new report that it had
manipulated Syrian witness Hosam Taher Hosam to recant his
testimony, which he said was coerced by Lebanese officials.
"What was mentioned in the report regarding manipulating,
threatening or arresting him or any of his kin before making his
testimony in Syria is absolutely untrue," it said.
Hosam, who said he fled Lebanon in November, has said the initial
report was largely based on his lies. Hosam's lawyer has also
denied any Syrian pressure on his client.
The statement said Syria received a letter from another Syrian
witness who has been identified by the report - Mohammad Zuhair
al-Siddiq - stating that "he had been kidnapped and forced to make
his previous testimony" to implicate Syria.
On October 18, Lebanon accused Siddiq of involvement in Hariri's
killing and said he had misled UN investigators. His testimony was
upheld in both reports issued after Lebanon issued an arrest
warrant against him. Siddiq is jailed in France.
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