PRC/LEBANON: SYRIA-LEBANON RESOLUTION IN SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 009289

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USUN FOR PHEE
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP, NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC LE SY CH
SUBJECT: PRC/LEBANON: SYRIA-LEBANON RESOLUTION IN SECURITY
COUNCIL

REF: STATE 78356

Classified By: Political External Unit Chief Edgard
Kagan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) The PRC remains opposed to a new UN Security
Council Resolution on Lebanon and continues to seek
watering down of any UNSC call for Lebanon and Syria
to establish diplomatic relations, but would be
willing to support a Presidential Statement stronger
than what Russia has proposed. During a joint May 16
demarche to deliver reftel points, MFA IO Department
UN Division Deputy Director Yao Shaojun told Poloff,
French Embassy Political Counselor Fabrice Mauries and
UK Embassy Political Officer Jennifer Grange that
Beijing believes that the latest draft resolution
represents progress but does not go far enough to win
the PRC's support.


2. (C) Yao explained that Beijing prefers a
Presidential Statement (PRST) to a UN Security Council
Resolution, which he doubted the PRC could support.
Beyond the question of the best way for the Council to
take action, Yao said the PRC continues to believe
that reference by the UNSC to establishing diplomatic
relations and delineating between Syria and Lebanon is
inappropriate. However, Beijing recognizes the
strength of the P-3 views on this point and is willing
to try to develop an acceptable compromise along the
lines of weakening the current draft's language in
operative paragraph 4 (OP4) and presenting the text as
a PRST. When asked, Yao said his personal view is
that the PRC can accept the current draft other than
OP4, but only as a PRST.


3. (C) Asked for Beijing's views on the draft Russian
PRST, Yao said the PRC recognizes that failure to
include language on establishing diplomatic relations
and demarcating the border between Lebanon and Syria
makes the Russian proposal unacceptable to the P-3.
Yao added that "some countries" believe that a PRST
should also include explicit references to Israeli
violations of Lebanese airspace and sovereignty, as
these were mentioned in Special Envoy Larsen-Roed's
report. He noted that Lebanon has approached the PRC
on this point.


4. (C) Stressing the importance of responding to PM
Siniora and Special Envoy Larsen-Roed's request,
Poloff emphasized P-3 commitment to a resolution and
urged the PRC to support the amended text without
trying to add new elements. French Political
Counselor Mauries agreed, adding that the P-3 have
made a serious effort to accommodate concerns about
OP4 that appear to address Beijing's original
objections.
RANDT