Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT1436
2007-09-18 15:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: READY TO MAKE FIRST CONTRIBUTION TO THE
how-toVZCZCXRO0670 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #1436 2611504 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181504Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9426 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1484 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1580 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001436
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: READY TO MAKE FIRST CONTRIBUTION TO THE
SPECIAL TRIBUNAL, BUT LACKS ACCOUNT INFORMATION
REF: STATE 129919
Classified By: DCM William Grant for Reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001436
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: READY TO MAKE FIRST CONTRIBUTION TO THE
SPECIAL TRIBUNAL, BUT LACKS ACCOUNT INFORMATION
REF: STATE 129919
Classified By: DCM William Grant for Reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (C) Finance Minister Azour told the Ambassador on
September 12 that, in addition to the $5 million the GOL
plans to commit later this month to the account for the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon, taken from GOL contingency
accounts, he has added a "program law" into the draft 2008
budget law that allows the GOL to commit in 2008 to a
three-year contribution. The money would be disbursed
annually. Azour had not been given any information about the
cost to Lebanon of the tribunal, but believed he could find
enough money to cover Lebanon,s promise to fund 49 percent
of the estimated $120 million cost for the first three years.
He also felt confident he could deliver more money in the
first two years, front-loading Lebanon's contribution per the
UN,s requirements.
3. (C) PM Siniora told the Ambassador during a September 15
meeting that, following up on our request that Lebanon make
the first contribution, he had spoken with the UN SYG about
transferring Lebanese funding into an account established by
the UN for the Special Tribunal. Siniora was under the
impression that the account was still not open. (Note:
Siniora is aware of the US need to obligate its contribution
before the end of the US fiscal year and, as a result, the
need for Lebanon to make its contribution before that. End
note.)
4. (U) Action Request. Post recommends that Department
ensure the UN Secretariat provides Special Tribunal account
information to the Lebanese authorities ASAP so that the GOL
can make its payment.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: READY TO MAKE FIRST CONTRIBUTION TO THE
SPECIAL TRIBUNAL, BUT LACKS ACCOUNT INFORMATION
REF: STATE 129919
Classified By: DCM William Grant for Reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (C) Finance Minister Azour told the Ambassador on
September 12 that, in addition to the $5 million the GOL
plans to commit later this month to the account for the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon, taken from GOL contingency
accounts, he has added a "program law" into the draft 2008
budget law that allows the GOL to commit in 2008 to a
three-year contribution. The money would be disbursed
annually. Azour had not been given any information about the
cost to Lebanon of the tribunal, but believed he could find
enough money to cover Lebanon,s promise to fund 49 percent
of the estimated $120 million cost for the first three years.
He also felt confident he could deliver more money in the
first two years, front-loading Lebanon's contribution per the
UN,s requirements.
3. (C) PM Siniora told the Ambassador during a September 15
meeting that, following up on our request that Lebanon make
the first contribution, he had spoken with the UN SYG about
transferring Lebanese funding into an account established by
the UN for the Special Tribunal. Siniora was under the
impression that the account was still not open. (Note:
Siniora is aware of the US need to obligate its contribution
before the end of the US fiscal year and, as a result, the
need for Lebanon to make its contribution before that. End
note.)
4. (U) Action Request. Post recommends that Department
ensure the UN Secretariat provides Special Tribunal account
information to the Lebanese authorities ASAP so that the GOL
can make its payment.
FELTMAN