By Xinhua
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute on Thursday to former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri on the third anniversary of the terrorist attack that took his life along with 22 others.
“The secretary-general stands in solidarity with the families of the victims and with the people and government of Lebanon,” said Ban’s spokesperson Marie Okabe in a statement.
“He reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to assist Lebanon in establishing the truth and in bringing to justice those who instigated, planned and executed this and other callous political assassinations and terrorist attacks in the country,” Okabe said.
“He continues with determination to prepare for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, convinced that impunity must not prevail and that the tribunal process cannot be reversed,” she noted.
The UN chief urged the parties in Lebanon to “redouble their efforts to achieve national reconciliation and to ensure the stability, security and prosperity” of Lebanon, she added.
Hariri was assassinated on Feb. 14, 2005 in a car bomb attack in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The UN, which is still leading an investigation into his assassination, has ordered the establishment of the special tribunal to try the suspects.