Aoun: Mikati has no right to commit to STL funding

Following his bloc’s weekly meeting Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday told reporters that Prime Minister Najib Mikati “does not have the right to commit his government to funding the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

“I am not ready to pay illegitimate and unconstitutional funds [to the STL and let those who want to commit to it pay out from their own pockets,” he said

Aoun also called for quickly finalizing the administrative appointments, adding that his bloc will “oppose appointing any incompetent people.”

“This matter can no longer be delayed and I think that we have the biggest role in appointing people on the basis of skills and ethics.”

Commenting on the Syrian crisis, he said that the situation has “calmed down,” adding that “those who want to change the status in Syria will not be able to.”

“We have told you that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will not be ousted and that reforms will be implemented.”