He said he agrees with Saniora that "the launch of the Special Tribunal will be a significant step towards the end of impunity."

He said they both hoped that the U.N. Security Council will endorse the plan.

"There will now be a build up in momentum with a coordinated transition starting on 1 January 2009, during which the staff of the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) in Beirut will gradually transfer to The Hague. This will be carried out in a manner that ensures that there is no interruption to the IIIC investigation," Ban said.

He said the world body is well-advanced in preparation work for this transition phase through the Registrar and his Advance Team in The Hague.

"I wish to thank those member states, which have contributed funds to the Special Tribunal, and encourage all member states to pledge their financial support for the coming years so that we can be assured that the Special Tribunal will continue on a firm financial footing," the U.N. chief said.

For his part, Saniora welcomed this "important step" adding that Lebanon will no longer be a country where there is impunity.

He thanked the Secretary-General and members of the permanent and non-permanent Security Council members and all those who helped through funds in making the court a reality.

Saniora also said that his discussions with Ban covered the issue of the Shebaa Farms and the border village of Ghajar.

"We proved to the secretary general that Lebanon had just claims regarding both the Shebaa Farms and Ghajar," he said. "As far as the Shebaa Farms are concerned we all know that a demarcation of borders to determine the land's ownership does not require the presence of technicians and experts in the Israeli-occupied territory ... The demarcation can be done on maps."

As for Ghajar, Saniora noted that the Israelis have clearly violated U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 by refusing to leave the northern part of the village since the summer war of 2006.

Saniora also met in Doha with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who thanked him for the Lebanese government's approval to open a Palestinian embassy in Lebanon.

Abbas also affirmed to Saniora that Palestinians in Lebanon are temporary guests who must respect Lebanese laws.