LEBANON: FRENCH, SPANISH, ITALIAN FMS TO MAKE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001598 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO/YERGER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: FRENCH, SPANISH, ITALIAN FMS TO MAKE JOINT VISIT Classified By: Classified by DCM William Grant for reason 1.4 (b) and ( d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The French, Spanish, and Italian Foreign Ministers are planning a joint visit to Lebanon October 19-20 to meet with UNIFIL commanders and their national troop contingents in UNIFIL and aleo meet with key political leaders in Beirut. French Embassy DCM and poloffs told us that the French hope to organize one large political meeting in Beirut involving the Lebanese organizations which participated in the 2006 National Dialogue, but at the level of "number ones" rather than the second-tier officials whom the French hosted in July at La Celle-St. Cloud in France. End Summary. UNIFIL CONTINGENCY PLANNING -------------- ¶2. (C) Sixty percent of the visit will be spent on on UNIFIL matters and and 40 percent on interactions with Lebanese political leaders, French embassy contacts told us. The FMs will have a joint lunch with UNIFIL Commander MG Claudio Graziano, an Italian, at UNIFIL HQ Saturday, then individual one-hour meetings with their respective contingents to discuss contingency planning. The French are concerned about the protection of UNIFIL in the current political impasse. What if there is no government or a second government, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) sticks to its promise to remain in the barracks, where does that leave UNIFIL, they asked? The French are also concerned about what they perceive to be increasing Israeli discontent at the UN with UNIFIL's blind eye approach to Hizballah. NEED TO REACH CONSENSUS -------------- ¶3. (C) The political meeting or meetings will focus on the the presidency. The French are promoting a proposal under which the three ministers would meet Lebanese political figures who participated in the 2006 National Dialogue, either at the Parliament or at Speaker Nabih Berri's office on October 20. This would include Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and all the "number one" officials from the National Dialogue organizations (except the SYG of Hizballah, who never travels and, presumably, Walid Jumblatt who will be in the U.S. at that time). The French DCM said Siniora was not overly excited at the proposal but gave a cautious "why not" reaction to the plan. (Comment: With these participants, such an event would look like a continuance of the Kouchner/Cousseron French initiative at which the "number twos" from National Dialogue participants met at La Celle-Saint Cloud in July. Participants at that meeting told us nothing substantive came of it, but they commented positively on the atmospherics. End Comment.) CONSENSUS AMONG THE FMS -------------- ¶4. (C) Asked if the French had any concerns about divided messages, particularly from Moratinos, the French DCM said they have been firm with the Spanish and Italians that there must be no separate press conferences or statements on the political issues. As the meetings themselves are coordinated, it is expected that the FMs will convey publicly a united voice. HARIRI'S SOFTENING RHETORIC -------------- ¶5. (C) French DCM Silva also said that the French are concerned about MP Saad Hariri's softening rhetoric on what kind of president would be acceptable and de-emphasizing the importance of UNSCR 1559. Silva attributed Hariri's changing rhetoric to his desire to be the next prime minister, a sentiment we hear frequently. The DCM said French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Kouchner would raise this concern during Hariri's current stop in Paris. MORATINOS LETTER ON SHEBAA TO UN SYG? -------------- BEIRUT 00001598 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C )On Sheba'a Farms, the French told us that Moratinos had sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon claiming that the Syrians had agreed to put the area under UN control. France is recommending the UN ask Syria officially whether this is true. FELTMAN