DAMASCUS, 27 November 2005 — Syria yesterday claimed to have avoided sanctions by clinching a deal allowing five top officials to go to Vienna to be questioned by a UN probe into the killing of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.
The agreement was hammered out after weeks of deadlock and announced on Friday by both Deputy Foreign Minister Muallem in Damascus and the United Nations in New York, with the official Syrian press proclaiming victory.
“The choice of Vienna in fact conforms to Syria’s demand,” wrote the pro-government newspaper Tishrin.
“It has blocked the road to those counting on non-cooperation who sought gradual sanctions against Syria with the aim of forcing Damascus to change its behavior.” The deal came as German magistrate Detlev Mehlis raced to complete his investigation into Hariri’s killing in a February bomb blast in Beirut by Dec. 15, although diplomatic sources in Damascus said his mandate would “very likely” be renewed.
There was no word on when the questioning in Vienna might begin.
In Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora described as “positive” the deal to grill the top Syrian officials, reportedly including the military intelligence chief Assef Shawkat, President Bashar Al-Assad’s brother-in-law.
“What is essential is Syria’s cooperation, not the venue, if we are to discover the truth about the assassination of Rafiq Hariri,” Siniora said in a statement.
A Damascus-based diplomat said Syria has avoided “imminent sanctions” but said its stance must continue as last month’s UN resolution calling for full cooperation is “very restrictive.”
In particular, resolution 1636 gives the commission the authority to decide on the venue and means of questioning for any Syrian citizen or face the threat of sanctions.
“Syria has fought to obtain guarantees and assurances,” Tishrin insisted.
Muallem on Friday also said the United Nations had given Syria assurances on respecting “Syrian sovereignty and the rights of Syrian citizens.”
