TFLE01: LIBYANS SUMMON P-5 COM'S TO DEMAND ACTION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000377 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/MAG, NEA/ELA, NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/31/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER LE IS LY SUBJECT: TFLE01: LIBYANS SUMMON P-5 COM'S TO DEMAND ACTION ON IMMEDIATE LEBANON CEASEFIRE CLASSIFIED BY: GREG BERRY, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Libyan MFA U/S Obeidi called in the P-5 Ambassadors and COM's July 31 to condemn the Israeli bombing in Qana and to call for an immediate ceasefire UNSCR. CDA responded by citing the Secretary's statement about an emerging consensus on the necessary elements of a ceasefire and lasting settlement. UK Ambassador said a UNSCR should address root causes of the conflict. French Ambassador said France was working for an immediate ceasefire. End Summary. ¶2. (C) General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (MFA) Under Secretary for European Affairs (and Qadhafi advisor) Abdelati Al-Obeidi summoned the P-5 Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission to hear Libya's urgent call for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Al-Obeidi was sent up from the alternate capital in Sirte, specially to deliver the demarche. He did so in two separate meetings with 1) the Russians and Chinese and 2) the U.S., UK and France. ¶3. (C) In our meeting, Al-Obeidi said that the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyya condemns the attack against civilians in Qana. He said there is no defense and no explanation under international law for what can only be seen as an act of state terrorism. He argued that the kidnapping of two soldiers does not justify the destruction of a country and its infrastructure and the killing of women and children. He noted that many countries have already condemned the attack and he requested an international investigation and a trial of the perpetrators. Targeting Hizballah fighters might have been expected, but not the targeting of infrastructure and civilians. ¶4. (C) He criticized the UN Security Council for failing to pass a resolution July 30 on the situation in Lebanon and for failing to condemn the killing of the four UN peacekeepers. He said the SC Presidential Statement was inadequate. The UNSC must take firm action to impose a ceasefire on both sides, including Hezbollah, he said. It is wrong to say that the time is not yet right for a ceasefire, when civilians are being killed, he added. "When will the time be right? After Lebanon is destroyed and all the civilians are dead?" he asked. Al-Obeidi said issues cannot be worked out under fire and therefore the ceasefire should be unconditional. He noted that the Israelis have unilaterally ceased fire for 48 hours and said that could easily be extended indefinitely. ¶5. (C) Al-Obeidi said people will lose faith in the UNSC as an institution if they see that it can only impose resolutions on places like Iran, Sudan, and North Korea, but not in this situation. He added that statements coming from Israel and "some members of the Security Council" are not encouraging. He cited recent Al-Qaeda statements, and said the absence of action by the Security Council will only encourage extremism. Even moderate individuals and governments are beginning to question their moderation, he said. He called on the UNSC to speak with one voice, act under Chapter VII and find a peaceful solution. ¶6. (C) CDA responded that the U.S. was deeply distressed by the images of suffering in the region, and was working for a sustained and genuine cessation of hostilities. He cited the Secretary's statement concerning an emerging consensus on the SIPDIS necessary elements of a ceasefire and lasting settlement. He noted that we are deeply engaged at the UNSC. ¶7. (C) The French Ambassador said France shared Libya's concern and was working for an immediate ceasefire resolution. The British Ambassador said the UK shares Libya's distress including on the killing of the four peacekeepers and was working for an early UNSCR to end the fighting and address its causes. BERRY