PRESERVING LEBANESE PM SINIORA'S GOVERNMENT:

S E C R E T ANKARA 006392 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2021 TAGS: PREL PROV PTER KDEM MOPS TU SUBJECT: PRESERVING LEBANESE PM SINIORA'S GOVERNMENT: REMINDING THE TURKS REF: A. SECSTATE 664065 ¶B. ANKARA 5990 Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (S) Ambassador raised ref a points with MFA Deputy U/S Apakan November 8, stressing USG concern that the SARG was using Lebanese political figures to try to bring down the government of PM Siniora. Large-scale demonstrations may be orchestrated during which violence would be encouraged in order to provoke a crisis. Ambassador noted he had earlier made a similar demarche to PM foreign policy adviser Ambassador Davutoglu (ref b) but that Syrian efforts had continued and we had been asked to approach the Turkish government again. ¶2. (S) Ambassador urged that the GOT use its contacts to point out to Damascus that provoking such unrest in Lebanon would only further isolate Syria and could lead to further UNSC action. It was also contrary to what FM Gul believed he had been told during his August trip to Damascus. ¶3. (S) Apakan recognized the seriousness of the situation. He said the Siniora government's continued control was critical to Lebanon's integrity. Turkey was taking part in UNIFIL and increased unrest could put Turkish troops at risk. He agreed as well that it ran counter to the pledges FM Gul had received in Damascus. Apakan promised to talk to the relevant players at MFA and proceed as soon as possible to make whatever contacts were appropriate. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON