UNITED NATIONS - Robin Vincent, Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, began his duty yesterday Monday, bringing the establishment of the court one step closer to reality, the UN announced on Tuesday.

He was appointed by the Secretary-General early last month and is the first official of the Special Tribunal to take up his functions.

UN deputy spokesperson Marie Okabe told the daily press briefing that Vincent will work in "close consultation" with the Special Tribunal's Management Committee and the United Nations Secretariat "to take the steps necessary for the Tribunal to be established in a timely manner," in accordance with Security Council resolution 1757 of last year which authorized the tribunal's creation.

The Management Committee is composed of Lebanon, France, Germany, the Netherlands (host country to the Tribunal), Britain and the United States.

She noted that he will initially concentrate his activities on preparing the premises of the Tribunal in the Hague, coordinating the transition between the International Independent Investigative Commission and the Tribunal, recruiting core staff, and finalizing the Tribunal's budget. -Kuna