Lebanon has long had a culture of impunity for political violence and assassinations have been common there. The UN tribunal is one of the first efforts at an independent investigation into a political assassination in the region.
According to a White House statement, President Obama emphasized the importance of the tribunal's work during his meeting with Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Jan. 11:
During their meeting, the President stressed the importance of the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as a means to help end the era of political assassinations with impunity in Lebanon. The President and Prime Minister specifically discussed united efforts with France, Saudi Arabia, and other key international and regional actors to maintain calm in Lebanon and ensure that the work of the Tribunal continues unimpeded by third parties.
