BEIRUT: Chouf MP Marwan Hamade said Sunday that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will continue its work and issue more indictments regardless of the Lebanese government’s position toward the court, adding that Hezbollah’s stance cannot influence the fate of the STL.

“The fate of the STL does not stand over the stance of a party ... Hezbollah is part of the government but it is not the government, Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese community but it is not the Lebanese community,” said Hamade. 

“This means that Hezbollah cannot influence an international decision made under the United Nations,” he added. In an interview with Al-Sharq radio station, Hamade said that if Prime Minister Najib Mikati was against the renewal of the protocol between Lebanon and the STL, let him announce it to the public.

“Let us hear Mikati say that he will stop the protocol and the STL ... even if he says it, it wouldn’t affect the court’s work,” said Hamade. According to Hamade, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who arrives in Beirut later this week, will stress the continuity of the court regardless of the Lebanese government’s stance.