Leidschendam, 24 May 2009: In response to media queries on the news report published on 23 May 2009 by the German magazine Der Spiegel on its website under the headline
"BREAKTHROUGH IN TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATION - New Evidence Points to Hezbollah in Hariri Murder", in which it is claimed that the "information" was obtained from "sources close to the tribunal and verified by examining internal documents", the Office of the Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon states the following:
Firstly, the public information approach of Prosecutor Daniel A. Bellemare has been and continues to be a principled responsible approach that places paramount importance on the necessity to uphold the integrity of the investigation, in particular through the preservation of its confidential character. Therefore, the Office of the Prosecutor reiterates that in keeping with this approach, the Office will not comment, as a matter of policy, on operational aspects of the ongoing investigation.
Secondly, since he took office in his current position at the STL and throughout his tenure as head of United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission, Prosecutor Bellemare has consistently declined to respond to speculations and allegations reported by or through the media on the finding of the investigation. The Office of the Prosecutor reiterates that is will not argue its case in the media.
Thirdly, the Office of the Prosecutor emphasizes that the only reliable information on the investigation is information provided by the Prosecutor himself or through his official spokesperson.
Finally, the Office of the Prosecutor reiterates that it operates according to the highest ethical standards and that the process it follows is evidence-driven, objective, neutral and impartial and leaves no room for a prejudged outcome.
For further information, please contact Ms. Radhia Achouri, Senior Communications Advisor/Spokesperson, Office of the Prosecutor.
Tel: +31 (0) 70 800 3438, Mobile: +31 (0) 65 088 9203, Email: achouri@un.org
