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