To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been put forward by the United Kingdom to resolve the impasse over the formation of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon; and if she will make a statement. (140377)

The UK is determined that those responsible for the assassination of Rafik Hariri should be brought to justice. In November 2006, with the UK’s support, the then UN Secretary-General wrote to Prime Minister Siniora inviting the Lebanese Government to approve statutes for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. In the context of the political impasse in Lebanon this was not possible, and Prime Minister Siniora and the Lebanese parliamentary majority wrote to the UN Secretary-General asking him to explore alternative ways forward. We have since worked with Security Council partners to assist Lebanon in setting up the Tribunal. UN Security Council Resolution 1757, formally establishing the Tribunal, was successfully passed on 30 May. We will work towards its full implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Government of Lebanon on initiatives to make political progress in Lebanon; and if she will make a statement. (140378)

The Government have remained in regular contact with the Government of Lebanon throughout the political crisis of recent months. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East, (Dr. Howells), and I have both recently visited Lebanon to show our ongoing support for the democratically elected Government and to discuss ways forward with both the Government and opposition. The UK is also active on the ground through our ambassador in Beirut. The UK has supported a number of regional and international efforts by Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and the UN to resolve the crisis. We continue to call on all sides in Lebanon to show flexibility and engage constructively to resolve the current political impasse.