STATUS OF DISCUSSIONS IN NEW YORK ON FRENCH-US

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001505 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y 2 - MSNG REASON CODE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2011 TAGS: PREL LE IS SUBJECT: STATUS OF DISCUSSIONS IN NEW YORK ON FRENCH-US DRAFT LEBANON RESOLUTION REF: A. SECSTATE 128442 ¶B. USUN 1487 (NOTAL) Classified By: USUN Deputy Political Counselor Molly Phee: reason 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (SBU) Posts will recall from reftels that on August 5 the French and American delegations in New York tabled a draft resolution calling for a full cessation of hostilties between Lebanon and Israel. Discussions were then held on the draft August 6 in New York. All Security Council delegations save Qatar welcomed the effort and expressed support for the text, although Russia and China in particular urged the co-sponors to make a further effort to address Lebanese concerns. At a meeting of the Arab League (AL) in Beirut August 7, it was decided to send a three-person delegation to New York to press Lebanese concerns about the draft. AL SYG Amre Moussa, Qatari Foreign Minister Hamid bin Jassim, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayid will therefore visit New York August 8 to meet with the US and French Permanent Representatives. The Qatari Foreign Minister and representatives from the Lebanese and Israeli delegations will also speak to the Council in a public meeting during the afternoon of August 8. ¶2. (C) Given these developments, the USG and the French are now reviewing our August 5 text. In order to ensure the resolution can be fully and successfully implemented, we are also considering how the concerns of Lebanon and Israel might be addressed. Because of the visit to New York of the AL delegation, we do not anticipate taking action on the resolution until later this week. As the situation is fluid, we recommend posts draw on official statements by the President, the Secretary, and Ambassador Bolton. BOLTON