GOF OFFICIALS CONDEMNS TUENI ASSASSINATION;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 008435

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/7/2015
TAGS: PREL SY LE FR
SUBJECT: GOF OFFICIALS CONDEMNS TUENI ASSASSINATION;
DISCUSS NEXT STEPS IN UN

REF: STATE 223709

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The GoF immediately condemned at the highest
levels the assassination of Gebran Tueni and issued strong
public statements calling on the international community to
redouble efforts to ensure full implementation of relevant
UNSCR's, confirming GoF readiness to help the GOL, and paying
tribute to Tueni's legacy. Presidential Middle East advisor
Dominique Boche stressed to us December 13 that the draft
UNSCR to renew UNIIIC should begin to take into account the
GOL request to the UNSC to broaden the UNIIIC mandate,
without formally enlarging UNIIIC's mandate or calling for an
international tribunal. Boche cautioned that asking for too
much, too rapidly could engender opposition within the SC and
complicate UNIIIC's extension. End summary.


2. (C) We shared USG statements condemning the assassination
of Gebran Tueni with MFA and Elysee officials December 12 and

13. President Chirac and FM Douste-Blazy strongly condemned
the assassination publicly shortly after it took place. In
an emotional condolence letter to Tueni's widow (full text in
para 6) made public December 12, Chirac condemned the
assassination "with the greatest firmness," declared that he
"bowed" before Tueni's memory, and described Tueni as "the
incarnation of Lebanon's fight for democracy, independence
and liberty." While Chirac's letter did not mention Syria by
name, it asserted, "He (Tueni) was a voice which some wanted
to silence. It is a liberation process which some want to
thwart." The letter also called for redoubling efforts to
ensure the full implementation of UNSCR's and confirmed GoF
willingness to respond to assistance requests from the GoL.


3. (C) Presidency Middle East/Americas advisor Dominique
Boche stressed to us December 13 that the GoF had sought to
condemn Tueni's assassination in the most firm terms, without
directly accusing Syria in the absence of proof. Boche
welcomed news of U.S. demarches to other European and Arab
capitals and agreed that further condemnations would be a
critical show of support to the Lebanese government and help
deter future attacks. While noting that the GoF had not made
similar demarches in capitals, Boche stressed that the GoF
efforts to secure a PRST condemning the attack had "opened
the door" to further UN action.


4. (C) On next steps in the UN, Boche asserted that the draft
UNSCR extending UNIIIC's mandate must "begin" to take into
account the GOL request to the SC to extend UNIIIC to other
assassinations (including Tueni's),without formally
broadening UNIIIC's mandate. Boche cautioned against seeking
to enlarge UNIIIC's mandate in the rollover resolution, which
he speculated could generate opposition from Algeria and
Russia among others, and delay the renewal, which must take
place rapidly. As an alternative, Boche proposed that the
draft resolution should "reinforce" the GoL request to
broaden UNIIIC's investigatory mandate, by authorizing UNIIIC
to assist the GOL and citing the most recent Mehlis report
language on fruitful information exchanges between UNIIIC and
the GOL. Boche stressed that it was similarly premature to
incorporate the GoL call for an international tribunal in the
UNIIIC renewal resolution, and suggested instead that the
resolution mandate the SYG to help the GOL determine what
types of international judicial assistance it needed.


5. (C) Comment: The Elysee response on the Tueni
assassination and next steps in the UN echoes what we heard
from working-level MFA officials this morning. While the GoF
is being unquestionably firm in its condemnation of Tueni's
assassination, French caution on next steps in the UN and the
emphasis on maintaining consensus in the UNSC is a consistent
policy line. End comment.


6. (U) Text of President Chirac letter to Siham Tueni,
December 12, 2005.

Begin text:

Dear Madam,

It is with great sorrow that I learned of the assassination
of your husband Gebrane (sic) Tueni and his companions. It
is a tragedy for Lebanon. France condemns with the greatest
firmness this crime, which provokes horror and indignation.
In his functions as President and Director General of the
newspaper An Nahar and in his mandate as member of
parliament, Gebrane Tueni incarnated Lebanon's fight for
democracy, independence and liberty. It is a voice which
some wanted to silence. It is a process which some want to
thwart. I bow before the memory of Gebrane Tueni and the
other victims who sacrificed their lives, after so many
others, for the cause of Lebanon's liberty. In these very
sad circumstances, I send you my deepest condolences and
assure you of my compassion. So many of these dramas cannot
be in vain. Lebanon is not alone. Its friends are mobilized
and the international community knows its responsibilities.
The death of Gebrane Tueni is the occasion to redouble
efforts so that the resolutions of the UN Security Council
are fully implemented. French authorities are available to
give their assistance and respond to the requests the
Lebanese government will introduce. Be sure that I remain
alert and determined to achieve these objectives. I convey,
Madame, my respectful homage. And my great compassion in the
face of the dramatic ordeal.

End text.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

Stapleton