FINLAND ON SYRIA'S PRESENCE IN LEBANON

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000287 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ELA, EUR/ERA, AND EUR/NB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MOPS SY LE FI SUBJECT: FINLAND ON SYRIA'S PRESENCE IN LEBANON REF: STATE 39018 ¶1. (U) In a March 6 interview with local television, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said that withdrawal of Syrian troops to the Biqa' is insufficient. Tuomioja stressed that Syrian troops must move to the Syrian side of the border, and added the following: "It is not a question of a day or two, but it should start without delay. If Hizballah sticks to peaceful protests, it should not endanger this process. Hizballah is a political party, which is represented in the Lebanese Parliament. But it represents a minority position." ¶2. (U) In a March 7 conversation with Finnish MFA Under Secretary for Political Affairs Markus Lyra, the Ambassador SIPDIS expressed appreciation for the FM's statement on the need for Syrian withdrawal, and urged the GoF to continue such statements. The Ambassador stressed, however, that withdrawal must begin immediately, and be finished by the time of the Lebanese Parliamentary elections. Withdrawal must also include Syrian intelligence personnel, to rid Lebanon of their pernicious influence. The Ambassador noted that this is not a complex issue, nor one with any ambiguity: democracy is "busting out all over" the Middle East, and the Syrians must comply with UNSC Resolution 1559, period. Under Secretary Lyra said the Finns agree, and promised us he would SIPDIS convey this demarche to President Halonen (who, under the Finnish constitution, shares authority with the government for Finland's foreign policy) and to the Foreign Minister. ¶3. (U) The Ambassador also noted that the government of Lebanon must accept international observers to monitor the election process, and asked whether the Finns plan to contribute any observers. Lyra said the Finns will offer at least a small number of observers. MACK