UPDATE ON SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS ON LEBANON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001519 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC KPKO IS LE SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS ON LEBANON REF: USUN 1505 ¶1. (SBU) The U.S. and France continue to work intensively and urgently in New York and in capitals to reach agreement on a draft UNSC resolution calling for a full cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. Ambassador Bolton and French Permanent Representative de la Sabliere met again August 9 with the visiting ministers comprising the Arab League Troika (the Foreign Ministers of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League) and engaged in constructive discussions on how to address the conflict and in particular how to build on the August 7 decision by the Government of Lebanon to deploy its forces to the south of Lebanon. Following these consultations, the American and French ambassadors met with the other P-5 members of the Security Council. More meetings are scheduled for August 10, including an additional bilateral with France followed by another meeting of the P-5. As the negotiations continue to move forward at a rapid pace, we recommend posts draw on the latest statements by senior USG officials to supplement this brief update. BOLTON