LEBANON/TURKEY: GOT CONDEMNS GEMAYEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 006490 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV KDEM MOPS TU LE SY SUBJECT: LEBANON/TURKEY: GOT CONDEMNS GEMAYEL ASSASSINATION, LEBANESE AMBASSADOR APPRECIATIVE OF TURKISH EFFORTS REF: ANKARA 6392 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Wilson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) The Turkish MFA immediately and strongly condemned the Nov. 21 assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Gemayel (full text in para. 3). Media reporting was straightforward and tended to place the blame on Syria. ¶2. (C) The Lebanese Ambassador to Turkey recently told Ambassador that Turkey has been working behind the scenes in Damascus to warn the SARG on Lebanon. The Lebanese Ambassador added that PM Erdogan has been in frequent touch with PM Siniora to compare notes and report on Turkey's efforts to assist his government. ¶3. (U) Text of MFA statement (informal embassy translation): BEGIN TEXT Nov. 21, 2006 It is learned with regret that Lebanon Industry Minister Gemayel died in an assassination in Beirut today. We extend our condolences to his family and the people of Lebanon. We strongly denounce this heinous attack which aims at disturbing the stability of Lebanon and thus the region, and believe the government and people of Lebanon will not allow such acts to hurt the efforts of building a spirit of compromise in the country. We wish that the perpetrators of the attack will be found as soon as possible and emphasize that Turkey is ready to provide all kinds of support for establishing stability and peace in the country during the sensitive period Lebanon has been passing through. END TEXT Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON