Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS3720
2006-07-31 11:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

FM MU'ALLIM CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, NOTES

Tags:  PREL SY LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5606
OO RUEHAG
DE RUEHDM #3720 2121122
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311122Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0646
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0156
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0133
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 003720 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PREL SY LE
SUBJECT: FM MU'ALLIM CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, NOTES
HIZBALLAH REJECTION OF ANY NON-UNIFIL PEACEKEEPERS.


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 003720

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PREL SY LE
SUBJECT: FM MU'ALLIM CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, NOTES
HIZBALLAH REJECTION OF ANY NON-UNIFIL PEACEKEEPERS.


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.


1. (C) Summary: FM Walid Mu'allim told assembled chiefs of
mission in Damascus July 30 there was no justification for
the deadly attack at Qana and criticized U.S. diplomatic
efforts for blocking the international community from
imposing an immediate cease-fire. Mu'allim reported that he
had been told by Amal head Nabih Berri, authorized to speak
for Hizballah, that the militia group would accept an
immediate cease-fire without conditions but would oppose the
deployment of any non-UNIFIL peacekeepers. End Summary.


2. (C) Syrian FM Walid Mu'allim July 30 briefed Charge and a
group of ambassadors from other diplomatic missions on the
crisis in Lebanon, telling them there was no justification
whatsoever for what he termed the massacre at Qana. He
criticized U.S. diplomacy, asking why, when the Arab states
(via Qatar) presented a draft resolution at the UNSC, the
U.S. had opposed it, and why the U.S. opposed the idea of a
cease-fire proposed at the Rome conference. According to
Mu'allim, the U.S. is providing cover for Israel to try to
achieve its political agenda.


3. (C) Mu'allim noted that the SARG's position, and that of
the nine Arab FM's he had spoken to earlier in the day,
supports calls for an immediate cease-fire. He noted that
they will press for this position at the UNSC. To further
demonstrate the consensus in favor of this position, Mu'allim
noted that he had met earlier in the day with Arab and
European ambassadors and that they had agreed on the need for
such a cease-fire. (Note: Al-Hayat July 31 reported that
the Saudi ambassador was not at this briefing.)


4. (C) Mu'allim told the assembled group that he had been
informed by Nabih Berri, who he said was authorized to speak
for Hizballah, that Hizballah will not/not accept an
international peacekeeping force other than UNIFIL. The UNSC
must not/not put responsibility for maintaining peace in
southern Lebanon on the Lebanese armed forces or require them
to take action to disarm Hizballah. Such an assignment,
because of the significant number of Shia, could lead to
sectarian tensions in the armed forces and possibly to civil
war. According to Berri, Hizballah is ready to agree if the
UNSC adopts a resolution calling for immediate and
unconditional cease-fire.


5. (C) Mu'allim made several additional points during the
briefing and the short question and answer session that
followed:

-- Syria does not want the situation in Lebanon to become
"Iraq Part II; if it continues, we are extending an
invitation to al-Qaida to join in the fray;

-- We hear calls to address the root causes. Such an
approach would require pressure to compel Israel to accept UN
resolutions 242 and 338;

-- Why isn't any consideration being given to placing part of
any proposed peacekeeping on the Israeli as well as the
Lebanese side of the border?, and

-- The current state of the roads in Lebanon made it clear
that no arms were being shipped from Syria into Lebanon; and
in any case Hizballah, as a guerilla force, already has all
the arms it needs for the style of warfare it conducts.


6. (C) Mu'allim briefed a group of ambassadors from the
Americas and Asia, including COM's from Canada, China, North
Korea, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, among others. The
Iranian ambassador also attended.



SECHE