LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION: AUSTRIAN

UNCLAS VIENNA 002349 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO AND EUR/AGS (SAINT-ANDRE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS UN LE IS AU SUBJECT: LEBANON SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 128442 ¶1. (U) Charge d,Affaires and Acting EconPolCouns met with Foreign Ministry Secretary General Johannes Kyrle and Helfried Carl from the Foreign Ministry's Office of Middle East Affairs to discuss the reftel demarche and draft Security Council resolution on Lebanon. Kyrle stated that Austria's current position was expressed in a statement yesterday by FM Ursula Plassnik, which called on Lebanon and the Arab states to seize this opportunity. Lebanon, Plassnik said, should trust in the international community, which wants to achieve peace in the region and work toward restoring the complete sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. Plassnik stressed that the draft Security Council resolution formed the basis for the cessation of hostilities, a lasting cease-fire, and a long-term political solution. These elements further set the stage for the introduction of a UN-mandated stabilization force. Kyrle also noted that foreign ministers from the Arab states are scheduled to meet today in Beirut to discuss the Lebanese crisis and proposed Security Council resolution. ¶2. (U) Kyrle said he had already spoken today with the French, who were advocating the idea that Israeli forces would leave within 72 hours after the establishment of the UNSC resolution. He expressed his concerns about China and Russia, specifically statements by Russian FM Ivanov that Russia would not participate in a stabilization force as long as the Israelis remained in Lebanon. Kyrle also questioned whether the interim force would go only as far as Sheeba Farms or beyond. ¶3. (U) Kyrle commented that Austria has evacuated between 330 and 340 Austrian citizens from Lebanon since the outbreak of hostilities, and that approximately 120 to 130 Austrians remain. The majority of these are dual nationals. There were also "hundreds of Austrian citizens" in Syria. ¶4. (U) Kyrle noted that Austrian UNDOF forces operate very near to Sheeba Farms and took cover twice over the weekend, along with their Slovak UNDOF counterparts, to escape shooting that was coming from the Hezbollah side. ¶5. (U) Kyrle expressed appreciation for our presentation and asked Charge to pass along any updates on the draft resolution or on our official policy as they become available. Kilner