 Syria has asked the United Nations for help in reaching a âcooperation protocolâ with the inquiry team probing the killing of Lebanonâs former Premier Rafik Hariri that will, at the same time, respect its sovereignty. Syria called on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday to intervene and help broker the cooperation agreement.
The Syrian call in a letter by Foreign Minister Farouk Shara came after a meeting last week between a Syrian legal adviser and chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis appeared to have failed to agree on the venue and legal framework for the questioning of six senior Syrian security officials. âThe foreign ministerâs letter asked the help of the president of the (UN) Security Council and the UN secretary-general in agreeing a cooperation protocol with the Syrian government,â a Foreign Ministry official said in a statement.
| But really, they're cooperating with the investigation... |
Annan on Monday defended his efforts to help persuade Syria to cooperate with the UN probe. Speaking to reporters on his return to UN headquarters after a two-week tour of the Middle East and Pakistan, the UN chief responded to press allegations that he had interfered with the probe led by Mehlis by urging Syria to cooperate. He said that during his recent trip to the Middle East, he had had a chance to help Mehlis by encouraging âleaders in the region to urge Syria to cooperate fully.â He also noted that since the UN Security Council last month passed a resolution demanding full cooperation with the UN probe into last Februaryâs Hariri slaying, he âhad the chance to talk to Syrian authorities several times urging them to cooperate with Mehlis.â âI think it is my duty as secretary-general to do whatever I can ...to make sure that everybody cooperates,â he added. Annan said the Syrian issue figured prominently in his discussions with Arab leaders. |