LEBANON: TUNISIA WELCOMES UNSCR 1701; CALLS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 002111

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/MAG, IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS UN UNSC IS LE TS
SUBJECT: LEBANON: TUNISIA WELCOMES UNSCR 1701; CALLS FOR
ARAB SUMMIT ON RECONSTRUCTION

REF: TUNIS 2085

Classified By: CDA David Ballard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The GOT has officially welcomed UNSCR 1701
on Lebanon, releasing a statement expressing its "great
satisfaction" with the resolution, which it characterized as
a "first step" to the return to peaceful efforts in the
search for a negotiated solution. President Ben Ali on
August 14 called for an emergency Arab League summit to
discuss the violence in the Middle East and to pledge support
for reconstruction in Lebanon and the Palestinian
territories. Asked about the response of Arab League
partners to Ben Ali's proposal, an MFA interlocutor noted
simply that "we will find out" at the Arab League Ministerial
in Cairo on August 18. Embassy has asked the MFA to provide
information about any ongoing GOT humanitarian aid efforts
for the Lebanese and Palestinian people. End Summary.


2. (U) The Tunisian press has widely reported the GOT's twin
reactions to the cease-fire in Lebanon: President Ben Ali on
August 14 called for an emergency Arab League summit to
discuss the violence in the Middle East and pledge collective
support for the reconstruction of Lebanon and the Palestinian
territories to "erase the consequences of the large
devastation." On the same date, the MFA issued a statement
expressing its "great satisfaction" with the resolution,
saying that it represented a "first step toward the cessation
of bloodshed and the return to peaceful efforts in the search
for a negotiated solution."


3. (C) In an August 16 meeting with Charge on a range of
issues, MFA Deputy Director for the Americas Moez Sinaoui
confirmed these GOT responses. When asked about reactions of
Arab League partners to Ben Ali's emergency summit proposal,
Sinaoui shrugged that "we will find out" at the Arab League
Ministerial scheduled to be held in Cairo on Friday, August

18.


4. (C) The local press continues its periodic coverage of
Tunisian efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Lebanon and
the Palestinian territories. For example, following a July
21 telcon between Ben Ali and Prime Minister Siniora in which
Ben Ali reportedly promised humanitarian assistance, the
media reported that a bank account had been opened to accept
donations from the public. In addition, several blood drives
were launched, some of which were promoted by text message
campaigns. Tunisian media on August 14 reported that Ben Ali
had asked the Minister of Public Health to send the collected
blood and other medical supplies as soon as possible to the
Lebanese and Palestinian people. He also directed that a
medical team be dispatched to help treat the wounded. Charge
asked Sinaoui about the status of these and any other efforts
to provide humanitarian assistance. Sinaoui undertook to
look into the matter and provide any relevant information.
BALLARD