The registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon David Tolbert has resigned.

On 12 January 2010, David Tolbert resigned as the Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The Lebanon tribunal's main administrator will return to the United States to assume his new position as President of the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ). David Tolbert’s resignation will be effective on 1 March 2010. He is the second registrar to leave the Tribunal in less than a year.
 

Mr. Tolbert stated: “I am proud of the excellent progress we have achieved in putting the STL on a firm footing and remain personally committed to its mission. I have the highest respect for the President, Prosecutor and Head of Defence as well as my other STL colleagues and look forward to supporting their important work in the future. At the same time, my new position will allow me to pursue my career in my home country, after spending many years abroad.”

Mr. Tolbert started to work in STL in August last year, after the resignation of Robin Vincent. Those who worked with Mr. Tolbert expressed their gratitude for his work at the Tribunal. The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, expressed his regrets for his departure: “During Mr. Tolbert's tenure as the Registrar, the Special Tribunal has made excellent progress, and the Registry is an efficient and fully functioning office which is ready to support the judicial activities of the Special Tribunal. His achievements include ensuring that the administrative infrastructure is in place to support future judicial activities, including key measures such as for witness protection and court management. He has steered through the Tribunal's budget for 2010 and raised a significant amount of the necessary funding. The construction work on the courtroom of the Special Tribunal will be completed before Mr. Tolbert's departure.”

STL President, Judge Antonio Cassese also emphasised Mr. Tolbert’s contribution, saying that “Mr. Tolbert’s departure will deprive the Tribunal of his unique competence”.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon was established by UN Security Council resolution 1757(2007) to try those alleged responsible for the attack of 14 February 2005 in Beirut that killed the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 other people. It officially opened in The Hague on 1 March 2009.

(HJP)