TANZANIA WANTS INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN LEBANON,

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 001309 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO/UNP FOR BHARRIS AND DBRENNAN; AF/E FOR BYODER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC LE IZ TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA WANTS INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN LEBANON, OPEN TO CONTRIBUTING TROOPS REF: A. DAR ES SALAAM 01260 ¶B. DAR ES SALAAM 01282 Classified By: DCM D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Tanzania supports a stabilization force in Lebanon and welcomes the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations' meeting in New York on August 3, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Multilateral Division, told Poloff on August 2. Mulamula said the creation of a stabilization force is necessary to create a buffer separating the fighting parties and "should have been done yesterday." Mulamula emphasized that the creation of a stabilization force goes in tandem with a ceasefire and that the ceasefire must occur first. Without a ceasefire, Mulamula added, there is nothing for the stabilization force to enforce and the participating troops are put in harm's way. ¶2. (C) When Poloff asked whether the Government of Tanzania would consider contributing troops to a stabilization force in Lebanon, Mulamula said "if asked." Poloff noted that the invitation was an open one and Mulamula added that if Tanzania were to participate in such a force, the GOT would request assistance with transport, initial capital and equipment. "But if our requirements are met," Mulamula concluded, "why not?" ¶3. (C) COMMENT: Mulamula's foreshadowing of a request for peacekeeping assistance, especially for equipment and transport, is consistent with prior GOT communications regarding PKO and particularly Tanzania's participation in the ACOTA program (reftel A). However, stating so openly a willingness to participate in a particular operation is refreshingly direct. Mulamula's comments came two days after a meeting between Ambassador Retzer and President Kikwete in which Kikwete referred to participation in a PKO in Lebanon peripherally and lightheartedly (reftel B). RETZER