DEMARCHE ON LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 001060 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC IS LE DA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION REF: STATE 130906 Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Bill Mozdzierz, reasons 1.4b,d We delivered reftel message on the Lebanon UNSC resolution early August 10 to Danish MFA Head of Department for Middle East and Latin America Tomas Anker Christensen and Lebanon desk officer Steen Malthe Hansen. Hansen expressed appreciation for the points, noting that he was at that moment preparing Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller's briefers for a parliamentary foreign policy committee meeting on Lebanon later that day. Hansen indicated broad agreement with the approach outlined in our message, maintaining the Danish government continues to hold the view that insistence on an immediate Israeli withdrawal is "unrealistic" absent guarantees for Israel that the security situation will not revert quickly to the status quo ante. The Danes have not seen the current draft resolution text, and so cannot comment on the details, Hansen allowed (while noting that communications have been very good between our missions in New York, especially given the press of negotiations). He assured us, however, that Denmark will continue to support efforts that address both the need for urgent action to end the fighting and the need to strengthen the long-term security of both Israel and Lebanon. CAIN