CZECHS SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000346

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PINS PINR SY LE EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON LEBANON

REF: SECSTATE 39018

Classified By: Classified by DCM Kenneth Hillas for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (SBU) Summary. In a meeting with DCM Hillas, Czech
Deputy Minister for Bilateral Relations Petr Kolar and Czech
Ambassador to Lebanon Marek Skolil stated that the Czech
Republic agrees with the U.S. position about the complete
withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon. The Czech MFA
issued a statement on Lebanon last week, although not as
strong as ours. Kolar assured the DCM of Czech intention to
put sustained pressure on Syria regarding Lebanon. Both
Kolar and Skolil expressed concern, however, that Syria and
Hezbollah will attempt to instigate violence in Lebanon in
order to justify its continued presence there. End summary.



2. (SBU) On March 8, DCM Hillas met with Deputy Minister
for Bilateral Relations Petr Kolar at the MFA to discuss
Czech views on Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. The meeting
was also attended by Czech Ambassador to Lebanon, Marek
Skolil, back in Prague for consultations. Kolar expressed
immediate support for the U.S. position on Lebanon, pointing
to the statement issued by the MFA last week regarding the
resignation of PM Umar Karami's government. Calling the
resignation "appropriate," the statement calls for
restoration of Lebanese sovereignty under UN 1559 and the
withdrawal of all foreign military troops from the country.
DCM Hillas explained that now was a time of unique
opportunity for U.S.-European cooperation to make a
difference in Lebanon. In this regard it would be key to
place sustained pressure on Syria to withdraw completely from
Lebanon. The DCM recognized EU High Representative Solana's
statement on Lebanon and stressed the need for consensus in
the Council to allow Solana to be sufficiently aggressive and
effective in his role. The Czechs concurred on the need for
sustained pressure, but cited logistical/housing constraints
Syria claims limit its ability to redeploy forces from
Lebanon. The Czechs recall similar problems for Soviet
forces after the end of the Cold War.


3. (C) Both Kolar and Skolil expressed concern that Syria
and Hezbollah may attempt to instigate violent demonstrations
in Lebanon, allowing the Syrians to claim that Lebanon is
unstable without Syrian forces present and that the Lebanese
are unable to quell uprisings on their own. Skolil admitted
that the EU has neglected the Lebanon/Syria issue for some
time, but that now there is "growing consensus" to "do more"
about Lebanon. Skolil noted that maintaining EU focus on the
issue would be key. In his view, there is no chance that
Syrian forces and intelligence services will completely leave
Lebanon within the next two months, noting Czech reports that
Syrian personnel at Beirut airport were being replaced by
Lebanese employees of Syrian intelligence. Kolar agreed on
the need to ensure that international observers are able to
monitor upcoming parliamentary elections and that the
Fitzgerald Commission receives the necessary cooperation in
carrying out its investigation of Hariri's assassination.
Skolil stressed the need for the international community to
think about how to respond to renewed violence in Lebanon.


4. (C) Comment: Last week's MFA statement did not call for
an "immediate" withdrawal or include a reference to Syria's
intelligence services. Czech concerns about Syrian capacity
to provoke violence in Lebanon and the proper response to
such an eventuality is an issue we will need to address as
part of a broad strategy for common U.S.- EU action.
CABANISS