Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA1447
2006-08-06 14:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
BAHRAIN: LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHMK #1447 2181441 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 061441Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5385 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0055 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001447
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016
TAGS: PREL BA LE IS UN REGION ROW
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AND
ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL
REF: A. STATE 128442
B. STATE 128426
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001447
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016
TAGS: PREL BA LE IS UN REGION ROW
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AND
ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL
REF: A. STATE 128442
B. STATE 128426
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief August 6 delivered Ref A and B
demarches concerning the UN Security Council draft resolution
on Lebanon and August 7 Arab League (AL) meeting in Beirut to
MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al Umran. (Note:
With the Minister outside the country on vacation and the
Assistant Under Secretary having just returned from vacation,
Al Umran was the senior-most MFA official available.) Al
Umran listened closely to both demarches and flagged his
concerns with the current state-of-play. He noted that the
Lebanese Government had already signaled its unhappiness with
the draft resolution and said that PM Siniora would benefit
from political cover provided by Arab foreign ministers at
the August 7 meeting. Al Umran thought that while Hizballah
has the support of the Lebanese (and Arab) street, Siniora is
the main player in Lebanese politics, and backing from the AL
ministers would give him additional authority and flexibility
in negotiating the UNSC draft resolution.
2. (C) Indicating that he was expressing his personal views
and not an official position of the GOB, Al Umran said he was
most concerned that the international community deal with the
full return of displaced persons from south Lebanon,
immediate humanitarian assistance, and long-term
reconstruction of the country. Referring to the article in
the draft resolution addressing the deployment of an
international force in Lebanon, he emphasized that displaced
southerners must be able to return to their homes. In the
past, internal refugees living in Beirut had caused enormous
problems for Lebanon, and the current displaced population
could do the same if they settled in Beirut.
3. (C) On a political level, Al Umran said that Israel had
made a mistake by targeting Lebanon's infrastructure and
civilian areas. "No one would give a damn if Israel hit
Hizballah fighters," he said. But by damaging the
infrastructure, Israel had transformed Hizballah from
"aggressors to defenders."
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
ZIADEH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2016
TAGS: PREL BA LE IS UN REGION ROW
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AND
ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL
REF: A. STATE 128442
B. STATE 128426
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief August 6 delivered Ref A and B
demarches concerning the UN Security Council draft resolution
on Lebanon and August 7 Arab League (AL) meeting in Beirut to
MFA Director for Bilateral Affairs Dhafer Al Umran. (Note:
With the Minister outside the country on vacation and the
Assistant Under Secretary having just returned from vacation,
Al Umran was the senior-most MFA official available.) Al
Umran listened closely to both demarches and flagged his
concerns with the current state-of-play. He noted that the
Lebanese Government had already signaled its unhappiness with
the draft resolution and said that PM Siniora would benefit
from political cover provided by Arab foreign ministers at
the August 7 meeting. Al Umran thought that while Hizballah
has the support of the Lebanese (and Arab) street, Siniora is
the main player in Lebanese politics, and backing from the AL
ministers would give him additional authority and flexibility
in negotiating the UNSC draft resolution.
2. (C) Indicating that he was expressing his personal views
and not an official position of the GOB, Al Umran said he was
most concerned that the international community deal with the
full return of displaced persons from south Lebanon,
immediate humanitarian assistance, and long-term
reconstruction of the country. Referring to the article in
the draft resolution addressing the deployment of an
international force in Lebanon, he emphasized that displaced
southerners must be able to return to their homes. In the
past, internal refugees living in Beirut had caused enormous
problems for Lebanon, and the current displaced population
could do the same if they settled in Beirut.
3. (C) On a political level, Al Umran said that Israel had
made a mistake by targeting Lebanon's infrastructure and
civilian areas. "No one would give a damn if Israel hit
Hizballah fighters," he said. But by damaging the
infrastructure, Israel had transformed Hizballah from
"aggressors to defenders."
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
ZIADEH