SYRIA/LEBANON: ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL

S E C R E T CAIRO 009468 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KPAL EG LE SY UNSC SUBJECT: SYRIA/LEBANON: ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL MOUSSA DESCRIBES RECENT INITIATIVES Classified by Ambassador Francis Ricciardone for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) During a December 22 meeting with the Ambassador, Arab League Secretary General Moussa discussed recent Arab League and GOE interactions with Syrian and Lebanese leaders. Clearly working hand-in-hand with the GOE, Moussa said that AL and GOE aim to calm tensions between Damascus and Beirut. Moussa said the current degree of hostility between the two states was untenable and that the "serial killings" in Lebanon must stop. The message both he and President Mubarak delivered to Bashar, Moussa said, was: -- Syria must cooperate fully with the Hariri murder investigation, per UNSC resolutions; -- Syria and Lebanon must address tensions constructively, by tackling border delineation issues and GOL security concerns, resolving economic disputes, and toning down media assaults. ¶2. (S) Moussa said both he and Mubarak warned Asad in their latest meetings (Moussa said he joined the Mubarak-Asad meeting in Cairo December 20) that Syria must cooperate completely with the UN investigation. According to Moussa, Syrian Foreign Minister Shara'a assured Mubarak that Syria was ready to work with Mehlis's successor. The latest UNSCR, Moussa said, contained language "acceptable to both Beirut and Damascus," and would pave the way for expanded assistance to Lebanon to pursue the investigation. ¶3. (S) On repairing the "broken relationship" between Lebanon and Syria, Moussa said, the League and the Egyptians were attempting to reduce tensions, particularly with respect to Lebanon's internal situation. The GOE and AL suggested that Syria work with Beirut to demarcate the bilateral border (including the issue of Shabaa Farms). These disputes, Moussa noted, included access to a number of villages mostly straddling the northern Lebanese-Syrian border. An agreement on Shabaa, Moussa speculated in front of AL staff (including a Lebanese),was only in the preliminary stage of consideration ("no commitment by Syria") and had to involve considerable UN participation due to the legal issues and history of the area. On border demarcation, Moussa said that while it was no simple matter, Shara'a told the Lebanese PM in Barcelona that it "could be done," and that Asad told Mubarak the issue could be worked out. On the issue of exchanging embassies, Moussa admitted that the subject was "in the mix" - but not necessarily a priority. ¶4. (S) In a short, private word with the Ambassador after the meeting with AL staff, Moussa clarified that Bashar had in fact agreed to begin the demarcation process, including requesting the UN's help in grappling with Shabaa Farms, and that Bashar also agreed to move to establish normal diplomatic relations with Lebanon as the demarcation process gets under way. Moussa had informed Lebanese PM Seniora of "all of this" and was now awaiting further word from the two parties. ¶5. (S) Describing his latest Washington consultations, the Ambassador reconfirmed long-standing US policy on Syria: the possibility that "normal" behavior by Syria could result in "normal" relations with the USG. Fully changing its behavior and acting like a normal state would mean stopping support for Iraq's insurgency, ending meddling in the Palestinian issue and support to terror groups, and stopping murdering politicians in other Arab states. The Arabs can help convince Damascus that its international and domestic problems are of its own making - and can not be "bartered" away. Moussa replied that the Arab League and Egypt's main focus is finding constructive ways to reduce tensions, not to make accusations against Syria. Moussa added that he and the Egyptians were consulting closely with the Saudis, and that he was openly briefing both the Lebanese and Syrians on each of his meetings with the other. Foreign Ministers of the Arab League states, he concluded, may also address the Syria/Lebanon issue when they meet in Cairo December 27 at an extraordinary ministerial session at the League. RICCIARDONE