Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COPENHAGEN1034
2006-08-03 11:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:
LEBANON: DENMARK BACKS FRENCH UNSCR DRAFT, WEIGHS
how-toVZCZCXRO9569 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHCP #1034 2151143 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031143Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2636 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1475 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE IMMEDIATE 1089 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0074 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1303
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
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
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