ROTTERDAM // A hearing called by the president of the Netherlands-based United Nations tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, indicates that terrorism and conspiracy are among the charges brought by prosecutors against the killers of the former Lebanese prime minister, analysts say.
Judge Antonio Cassese, last week requested a hearing for February 7 on some of the legal definitions of the charges raised in a sealed indictment filed by the tribunal's prosecutor. A pretrial judge is currently considering the indictment, handed down on January 17, and can accept all or part of it, or reject it.
The areas of terrorism, conspiracy and co-perpetration, cited by Judge Cassese in a public document calling for the hearing, may further inflame tensions in Lebanon and the region. Conspiracy and co-perpetration indicate that some of those who ordered the assassination, or helped plan it, may be charged. A charge of terrorism may have international implications for any parties or governments that are named.
In his request, Judge Cassese said there was a "need for a comprehensive discussion of the issues raised by the pre-trial judge."
Carsten Stahn, an expert in international law and tribunals at Leiden University in the Netherlands, said that the discussion of the legal definitions makes it "very likely", that these are among the charges that the prosecutor is seeking. He said that even though the indictment is meant to remain sealed, "that is probably more out of concern over the identity of the suspects and possible witnesses and their safety than over the exact nature of the charges."
Next month's public hearing on the legal definitions at the tribunal will offer a first glimpse of the highly sensitive charges that the prosecutor is seeking.
The indictment has sparked a political crisis in Lebanon, where Hizbollah expects some of its members to be accused. The group and one of its patrons, Syria, have denied any involvement in the assassination.
Hizbollah and its parliamentary allies hope to form a government that is expected to sever Lebanon's links with the tribunal. But the tribunal has expressed confidence that it will be able to continue to function even if a Lebanese government that is opposed to it comes to power.
The tribunal says that it is ordering the hearing on the legal issues even while the indictment is still being considered, in order to speed up the process. Under the tribunal's rules, such a hearing has to be public.
It is not uncommon for pretrial judges at international tribunals to seek such clarifications. "It may reflect that the pretrial judge regards some of the charges as too broad or wants to know under which national or international statute they should be filed," Mr Stahn said.
The process of deciding on the indictment is expected to take until the end of March or the beginning of April. The tribunal's registrar has said that a trial may start by September or October this year. If some or all of the suspects cannot be apprehended, the tribunal may proceed with trials in absentia.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
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Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
OPENING FIXTURES
Saturday September 12
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Leeds United
Tottenham v Everton
West Brom v Leicester
West Ham v Newcastle
Monday September 14
Brighton v Chelsea
Sheffield United v Wolves
To be rescheduled
Burnley v Manchester United
Manchester City v Aston Villa
WIDE%20VIEW
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PFA Premier League team of 2018-19
Allison (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
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Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
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