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)
.

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Summary
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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.

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FM Noticeably Unsettled
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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."

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"The Roadmap Is Dead"
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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.

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More U.S. Involvement
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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

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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.

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Interior Minister's Visit to Damascus
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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."



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