TFLE01: FM SHAIKH KHALID ON LEBANON, ROADMAP

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001313 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER BA REGION CTR OFFICIALS SUBJECT: TFLE01: FM SHAIKH KHALID ON LEBANON, ROADMAP Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador July 18, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid was clearly anguished about the hostilities in Lebanon. The Lebanese have worked so hard to bring their country back from civil war, but now there is much destruction and many civilian deaths. Shaikh Khalid voiced the GOB's firm support to the GOL to work for full control of all of Lebanon as specified in UNSCR 1559. Care needs to be taken in dealing with Hezbollah, however, as it is a proxy for other parties. He urged the U.S. to take a more active role in the Middle East including encouraging Israel to work more closely with Palestinian President Abu Mazen. Foreign ministers in Cairo July 15 agreed that the "roadmap" is dead, and that there is a need for a "new beginning." Iranian FM Mottaki actively sought an invitation to the meeting in Cairo, but was rebuffed. Shaikh Khalid explained that a recent visit by Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid to Damascus was to deliver a message of concern about Bahraini Shia pilgrims who visit Syria and then go to training camps in Lebanon. End summary. -------------- FM Noticeably Unsettled -------------- ¶2. (C) During a discussion with the Ambassador July 18 on developments between Lebanon and Israel, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa was visibly anguished about the situation. He said that in all the destruction in Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah is not losing, it is the Lebanese people who are losing. There are indiscriminate attacks from both sides and innocent civilians are dying. "It is tragic. I feel sad for the common people who were hired to provide temporary help for the summer season, who are now out of a job and on the streets. They may now go and fight for a militia." He said that the Lebanese love life and have worked so hard to bring Lebanon back to life from the civil war, but now, "not one bridge exists." ¶3. (C) Shaikh Khalid said that the heart of the matter for Lebanon is who controls the country. The GOB's position is to give full support to the GOL and to PM Fuad Siniora's statement in which he requested help from allies to work for full GOL control of all of Lebanon as specified in UNSCR ¶1559. The GOB wants to see a halt in hostilities as soon as possible and transfer of control of border areas to the Lebanese army. Shaikh Khalid urged the U.S. to use its influence to call for an ad hoc force, UN or multi-national force, of international peacekeepers that could facilitate this handover. "You can't have two armies in control of the country." ¶4. (C) In outlining the U.S. position on the conflict, the Ambassador commented that tragic as the situation is, this presents an opportunity to deal forcefully with Hezbollah. The FM said that we need to be careful though, because Hezbollah is not alone. "Hezbollah is a proxy. This is a bigger issue than just the Lebanese government." -------------- "The Roadmap Is Dead" -------------- ¶5. (C) Shaikh Khalid expressed frustration over the July 15 Arab League meeting of foreign ministers and their inability to come to a consensus on a communiqu. Those presenting a separate Lebanese communiqu and a separate Palestinian communiqu were inflexible, insisting on the wording they presented. The remaining FMs developed a separate joint communiqu. The FMs did agree that there is currently no peace process and that "the roadmap is dead." "We are sick of the roadmap; we need a new beginning." He said one important idea out of the Cairo meeting was to go to the UNSC to help resolve the immediate crisis. He called for the full involvement of the world powers to solve a situation that was rapidly deteriorating. More broadly, he lamented that the peace process itself had gone from broad engagement in Madrid, to Oslo, Wye River, the Roadmap and to where we are now stating a need for more extensive engagement. Shaikh Khalid laid out a general framework saying that after helping Lebanon control its own borders, an essential step, we need to turn our attention to the Palestinians, and solve the Syrian issue. ¶6. (C) Shaikh Khalid said that Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki called several foreign ministers in the region (but not him) requesting that he be invited to Cairo for the July 15 meeting. Shaikh Khalid said he considered inviting Mottaki if only for the opportunity to put pressure on Iran to control Hezbollah. But Mottaki's public statements sounded as if he were talking on behalf of Hezbollah, and he would likely use the meeting in Cairo for Iran's political advantage. In the end, several foreign ministers told Mottaki they would not invite him. -------------- More U.S. Involvement -------------- ¶7. (C) Shaikh Khalid urged the U.S. administration to be more involved in the Middle East. Ambassador pointed to diplomatic efforts including President Bush's G-8 engagement, A/S Welch and DNSA Abrams talks in Jerusalem and the Secretary's indication she was prepared to visit the region SIPDIS at the right time. Shaikh Khalid acknowledged U.S. efforts, and urged a more active role, including the U.S. encouraging Israel to work more closely with Palestinian President Abu Mazen. -------------- Interior Minister's Visit to Damascus -------------- ¶8. (C) In response to Ambassador's question about Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa's recent meeting with President Asad in Damascus, the FM stated that the Interior Minister carried a message regarding Hezbollah involvement in Bahrain. "We have Bahraini pilgrims visiting Shia shrines in Syria," he explained, "who then slip over to Lebanese training camps. This is a problem." ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE