Ban welcomes Lebanon’s increased support for Special Tribunal

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today Lebanon’s decision to increase its financial support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which was set up to try those alleged to be responsible for the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

During a phone call with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Mr. Ban expressed his gratitude for the Government’s decision to take on 49 per cent of the 2011 budget for the tribunal.

According to his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said the decision was a very positive step that would allow the tribunal to continue to uncover the truth about the former leader’s assassination, and said he was confident that the Government would continue to respect Lebanon’s international obligations and cooperate with the STL.

Today Mr. Ban also visited Bongha, the home town of the late former president of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Roh Moo-hyun, where he paid his respects at a memorial and met his widow. Mr. Ban served Mr. Roh as foreign minister and earlier as diplomatic adviser. Later on, Mr. Ban also visited Seoul, where he met former president Kim Young-sam at his residence.

Mr. Ban’s visit to his native country this week included his address to the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan. The forum brought together representatives of governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world to discuss how to make aid more effective and helpful to those in need.