Hariri Admits: We Made Mistakes Accusing Syria, False Witnesses Misled Tribunal
Local Editor
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri admitted that he had made a mistake in accusing Syria of assassinating his father after five years of rupturing ties with the neighboring country.
Hariri told Asharq Al Awsat newspaper in remarks published on Monday that the charge had been politically motivated and that when he assessed this mistake, he found that it had harmed the Syrian people and the ties between the two countries.
"We have assessed the mistakes we did with Syria that harmed it and its people, and the relations between the two countries. We always have to look at the benefit of the two countries and work accordingly, so that past mistakes are not repeated," Hariri added, highlighting "We have started a new page with our neighbor country since the formation of the government."
Syria was the first victim of the initial suspicions on martyr Hariri's 2005 assassination in addition to the four Lebanese Generals, who were arrested during the investigation based on testimonies of false witnesses. Four Generals were detained for four years, and then set free in 2009 in complete absence of evidence.
Concerning the false witnesses, Hariri said "A lot has been said about the false witnesses, some people have misled the investigation and harmed Syria and Lebanon they have harmed ties between the two countries and politicized the assassination."
"I do not want to talk much about the special tribunal, but I will only say that the tribunal is independent and not related to political accusations that were made prematurely. The tribunal only takes into consideration evidence," he added.
On the indictment issue, Hariri clarified "I do not know what is in this indictment, and I cannot interfere in it, but all I demand is the truth and justice."
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri admitted that he had made a mistake in accusing Syria of assassinating his father after five years of rupturing ties with the neighboring country.
Hariri told Asharq Al Awsat newspaper in remarks published on Monday that the charge had been politically motivated and that when he assessed this mistake, he found that it had harmed the Syrian people and the ties between the two countries.
"We have assessed the mistakes we did with Syria that harmed it and its people, and the relations between the two countries. We always have to look at the benefit of the two countries and work accordingly, so that past mistakes are not repeated," Hariri added, highlighting "We have started a new page with our neighbor country since the formation of the government."
Syria was the first victim of the initial suspicions on martyr Hariri's 2005 assassination in addition to the four Lebanese Generals, who were arrested during the investigation based on testimonies of false witnesses. Four Generals were detained for four years, and then set free in 2009 in complete absence of evidence.
Concerning the false witnesses, Hariri said "A lot has been said about the false witnesses, some people have misled the investigation and harmed Syria and Lebanon they have harmed ties between the two countries and politicized the assassination."
"I do not want to talk much about the special tribunal, but I will only say that the tribunal is independent and not related to political accusations that were made prematurely. The tribunal only takes into consideration evidence," he added.
On the indictment issue, Hariri clarified "I do not know what is in this indictment, and I cannot interfere in it, but all I demand is the truth and justice."
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