TFUS01: EMBASSY LONDON SITREP 11, 09/28/01

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 005780

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2011
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV US UK
SUBJECT: TFUS01: EMBASSY LONDON SITREP 11, 09/28/01

REF: LONDON 5755 (NOTAL)

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM GLYN DAVIES. REASONS PARA 1.5 (B),(D),(E).

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PM BLAIR URGES CREATION OF "HUMANITARIAN COALITION"
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1. (U) PM TONY BLAIR MET SEPTEMBER 27 WITH A DIVERSE GROUP
OF BRITISH MUSLIM LEADERS AT DOWNING STREET AND ANNOUNCED,
"JUST AS WE HAVE BUILT A POLITICAL AND MILITARY COALITION
FOLLOWING THE EVENTS IN AMERICA, NOW WE HAVE ALSO TO BUILD A
HUMANITARIAN COALITION TO DEAL WITH THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
IN THAT REGION." BLAIR SAID HE WOULD PRESS THE ISSUE WITHIN
THE EU, THE UN, AND BILATERALLY WITH JAPAN.


2. (U) IN ADDITION TO THE 25 MILLION POUNDS (USD 38M)
BRITAIN PLEDGED LAST WEEK FOR DISPLACED AFGHANS, THE UK
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT WILL ALSO GIVE 11 MILLION POUNDS (USD
17M) TO HELP PAKISTANIS LIVING IN THE BORDER AREA (IN PART TO
PREVENT ACCUSATIONS OF FAVORITISM TOWARD AFGHAN REFUGEES).

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COMMONWEALTH MEETING CANCELLED
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3. (U) THE BIENNIAL COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT
MEETING, SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 6-9, WAS POSTPONED FOR A YEAR.
THE QUEEN ACCORDINGLY POSTPONED HER PLANNED TOUR OF
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

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LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SUPPORT U.S.
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4. (U) THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PARTY ANNUAL CONFERENCE CLOSED
SEPTEMBER 27 WITH THE TRADITIONAL SPEECH BY THE LEADER,
CHARLES KENNEDY. KENNEDY ESCHEWED THE NORMAL RALLYING CALL
TO THE PARTY FAITHFUL, AND INSTEAD FOCUSED ON NUANCED SUPPORT
FOR THE BLAIR GOVERNMENT'S STAND WITH THE U.S. HE MADE A
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR'S PRESENCE
EARLIER IN THE WEEK AS A SIGNAL OF THE FORCES OF DEMOCRACY
WORKING TOGETHER (SEPTEL).

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UK SHARES CONCERNS ON UBL IN SOMALIA
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5. (C) THE FOREIGN OFFICE PROVIDED EMBASSY LONDON WITH A
REPORT ON SOMALI CONNECTIONS TO UBL THAT ANALYZES PROSPECTS
FOR RELOCATION AND/OR SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM AMONG SOMALI
FACTIONS (REFTEL).

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MEDIA
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6. (U) THE SECRETARY'S INTERVIEW WITH RESPECTED ANCHORMAN
SIR TREVOR MCDONALD WAS BROADCAST SEPTEMBER 27 ON ITN'S
EVENING NEWS TO VERY FAVORABLE REVIEWS. THE DCM APPEARED ON
SKY NEWS CALL-IN PROGRAM SEPTEMBER 28.


FARISH