LEBANON: DENMARK BACKS FRENCH UNSCR DRAFT, WEIGHS

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 001034 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO LE IS DA SUBJECT: LEBANON: DENMARK BACKS FRENCH UNSCR DRAFT, WEIGHS PEACEKEEPING ROLE REF: COPENHAGEN 991 Classified By: Bill Mozdzierz, Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs, reasons 1.4b,d ¶1. (C) The Danish government's approach to the Lebanon crisis continues to track with ours, emphasizing the need for a long-lasting solution that neutralizes the security threat posed by Hezbollah. An extraordinary meeting of the Danish parliament's foreign policy committee August 1 yielded broad, general support -- after occasionally sharp debate between Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller and center-left opposition leaders -- for the government's policy, Danish MFA officials and committee members confirmed afterwards. This was reflected in the EU foreign ministers' meeting later that day, when Moeller joined the UK, Germany, Poland and others in revising the Finnish presidency's initial meeting conclusions. ¶2. (C) The Danes have decided to move forward on the basis of the French draft UNSC resolution, with some caveats, and report that they have been encouraged by the U.S. engagement in New York so far. Although no decision has yet been taken concerning Danish participation in an international force in Lebanon, the Danish MFA in particular has highlighted the possibility of some modest contribution, such as a coastal patrol vessel, depending on the mission and its requirements. The Danish defense ministry and joint staff have evinced less enthusiasm, citing resource and manpower constraints (the Danish chief of naval operations told us August 3 that he saw little sense in sending one of his ships to Lebanon, but allowed that such a mission was possible). In any event, even as they wish to "consider positively" (as MFA officials frequently state) any requests for assistance, the Danes consider it premature to make any pledges before knowing what sort of mission this will be, and under what auspices. ¶3. (C) Reviewing Security Council deliberations with us August 2, Danish MFA Lebanon desk officer Steen Malthe Hansen, who participated in the EU GAERC discussions the previous day, indicated that his government remains concerned about the prospects for reconciling the French and U.S. positions on sequencing, an apparent disagreement that has also resulted in repeated postponements of force generation talks. Hansen suggested that his government has some specific concerns about the French draft, among them the lack of language on the obligation of member states not to supply arms to Hezbollah. Hansen expressed hope that the delegations working in New York could bridge their remaining differences and produce a strong resolution that will clear the way for an early end to the conflict, and the possibility of greater security for Lebanon and Israel. CAIN