(C) THREATS TO LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER OF SERIOUS

S E C R E T CAIRO 006461 SIPDIS SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARAGRAPH MARKINGS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER MEPN UNSC EG LE SY SUBJECT: (C) THREATS TO LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER OF SERIOUS CONCERN TO EGYPT REF: STATE 172274 (NOTAL) Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) During an October 17 meeting with MFA Cabinet Advisor for Syrian and Lebanese Affairs, Nazih Al Negeiry, poloff raised reftel demarche points on Syrian-originated threats against Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora. Negeiry was familiar with the topic, referring to Egyptian embassy reporting and press reports from Beirut. He said the U.S. demarche was "consistent with what we are hearing" from regional reporting. Offering to circulate the USG message internally, Negeiry said Egypt was seriously concerned by the heightened tensions and reports of impending attacks. Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Soliman, he noted, discussed the issue during his recent visit to Damascus. ¶2. (S) Shifting to U.S.-Syria relations, Negeiry said Egypt's Damascus mission had recently reported rumors that Washington was looking at ways to improve relations with Damascus. Negeiry argued that Washington needed to give Syria "something meaningful" on the Golan or Lebanon before the SARG would end its cooperation with Tehran or its problem-making among Palestinians. Referring to recent rocket attacks in Beirut near the PM's and UN offices, Negeiry said the attacks were warnings to Seniora and the UN not to further challenge Syrian interests in Lebanon. Based on conversations with Lebanese politicians, he added, a decision by the GOL and UNIIIC to pursue the specific charge of "crimes against humanity" in the upcoming Hariri-murder tribunal would motivate Syria and its proxies in Lebanon to seek violent retribution against Seniora and his March 14 allies. JONES