MGLE01: PSI: URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001380

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR T, NP, AND NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2012
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA LE
SUBJECT: MGLE01: PSI: URGING PSI ENDORSEMENT

REF: STATE 50811

Classified By: DCM Christopher W. Murray. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) an
d (d).


1. (C) On May 3 DCM raised with MFA Acting Secretary
General Boutros as-Sakr reftel issues concerning Lebanese
participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).
as-Sakr said that the GOL had received an invitation for the
senior-level PSI meeting in Poland in June, and replied that
Lebanon would be represented by its Ambassador in Warsaw.


2. (C) as-Sakr said that there is little suggestion that
WMD or related materials pass through Lebanese territory, and
accordingly, the GOL has not made this issue a high priority.
(Comment: as-Sakr implied that currently contentious
regional and domestic policy debates, several of which are
security-related, would make this an inauspicious time to put
PSI on the table for Cabinet decision or even discussion.
End Comment.) He noted that the GOL has twice filed reports
in follow-up to UNSCR 1540.
FELTMAN