Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT326
2007-03-02 16:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: POSITIONS FOR ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN
how-toVZCZCXRO3819 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #0326 0611613 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021613Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7573 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0912
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000326
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/FO:ATACHCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE IR SU IN PA
SUBJECT: LEBANON: POSITIONS FOR ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING REMAIN UNCLEAR
REF: A. STATE 24372
B. STATE 24344
Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b
) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000326
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/FO:ATACHCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE IR SU IN PA
SUBJECT: LEBANON: POSITIONS FOR ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING REMAIN UNCLEAR
REF: A. STATE 24372
B. STATE 24344
Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (C) Polchief delivered ref (A) demarche to Oussama
Khacchab, Americas Desk Officer at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Khacchab pointed out that Lebanon did not receive
the agenda for the Foreign Ministers Meeting until late on
March 1, and that its positions on several key positions
remain undetermined. The MFA is focusing its effort on
preparing its paper for the Arab Summit March 28-29, but the
process is hampered by the fact that Lebanon's Foreign
Minister, Fawzi Salloukh, resigned from the cabinet November
11. While Salloukh has conducted some protocol functions
lately, neither he nor acting Minister Tarek Mitri have
exercised substantive control over the ministry. Minister
Mitri, whose primary portfolio is the Ministry of Culture,
will likely represent Lebanon at the Foreign Ministers
Meeting. The MFA's former Secretary-General, Ambassador
Boutros Assaker, will also attend. Both Mitri and Assaker
are on the opposite side of the political divide from
Minister Salloukh, Oussama pointed out, which exacerbates the
ministry's political divide. (Note: We would characterize
Assaker, who has been nominated but not confirmed as
Lebanon's ambassador to France, as only barely, if at all, on
the opposite side of political divide from President Lahoud.
He maintained close relations with the Syrians during their
occupation of Lebanon. End Note.)
2. (C) On Palestine, Khacchab reported that Lebanon strongly
supports the National Unity Government and will likely
express its support during the FM meeting and Summit. When
pressed on the difficulties this could pose for the
Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, Khacchab noted that Lebanon
perceives that its greatest equity is to ensure peace among
Palestinian factions within refugee camps inside Lebanon;
pro-Fatah and pro-Hamas groups have clashed recently, and the
Lebanese security services' ability to control outbreaks of
violence inside the camps is limited. On Iraq, he noted that
Lebanon is seized with the significance of the upcoming
regional security meeting to be held in Baghdad. he said
that the GOL would likely form its position after that
meeting, and in conjunction with the Saudi and Egyptian lead
within the Arab League.
3. (C) On Iran, Khacchab welcomed ref (B) demarche and
expressed GOL concerns about Iran's destabilizing activities
in the region, but stressed that GOL public action or
statements on Iran's nuclear activities would likely be
circumscribed by internal tensions between the GOL and its
Iranian-supported elements. On Sudan, Khacchab said that
Lebanon would take either a "strong" position reflecting the
concern of Lebanese Christians over the violence in Darfur or
a "diplomatic" position in harmony with the broader consensus
within the Arab League. Lebanon has no position as yet on
the specific issue of the proposed UN/African Union
Peacekeeping Operation.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/FO:ATACHCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER LE IR SU IN PA
SUBJECT: LEBANON: POSITIONS FOR ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING REMAIN UNCLEAR
REF: A. STATE 24372
B. STATE 24344
Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b
) and (d).
1. (C) Polchief delivered ref (A) demarche to Oussama
Khacchab, Americas Desk Officer at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Khacchab pointed out that Lebanon did not receive
the agenda for the Foreign Ministers Meeting until late on
March 1, and that its positions on several key positions
remain undetermined. The MFA is focusing its effort on
preparing its paper for the Arab Summit March 28-29, but the
process is hampered by the fact that Lebanon's Foreign
Minister, Fawzi Salloukh, resigned from the cabinet November
11. While Salloukh has conducted some protocol functions
lately, neither he nor acting Minister Tarek Mitri have
exercised substantive control over the ministry. Minister
Mitri, whose primary portfolio is the Ministry of Culture,
will likely represent Lebanon at the Foreign Ministers
Meeting. The MFA's former Secretary-General, Ambassador
Boutros Assaker, will also attend. Both Mitri and Assaker
are on the opposite side of the political divide from
Minister Salloukh, Oussama pointed out, which exacerbates the
ministry's political divide. (Note: We would characterize
Assaker, who has been nominated but not confirmed as
Lebanon's ambassador to France, as only barely, if at all, on
the opposite side of political divide from President Lahoud.
He maintained close relations with the Syrians during their
occupation of Lebanon. End Note.)
2. (C) On Palestine, Khacchab reported that Lebanon strongly
supports the National Unity Government and will likely
express its support during the FM meeting and Summit. When
pressed on the difficulties this could pose for the
Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, Khacchab noted that Lebanon
perceives that its greatest equity is to ensure peace among
Palestinian factions within refugee camps inside Lebanon;
pro-Fatah and pro-Hamas groups have clashed recently, and the
Lebanese security services' ability to control outbreaks of
violence inside the camps is limited. On Iraq, he noted that
Lebanon is seized with the significance of the upcoming
regional security meeting to be held in Baghdad. he said
that the GOL would likely form its position after that
meeting, and in conjunction with the Saudi and Egyptian lead
within the Arab League.
3. (C) On Iran, Khacchab welcomed ref (B) demarche and
expressed GOL concerns about Iran's destabilizing activities
in the region, but stressed that GOL public action or
statements on Iran's nuclear activities would likely be
circumscribed by internal tensions between the GOL and its
Iranian-supported elements. On Sudan, Khacchab said that
Lebanon would take either a "strong" position reflecting the
concern of Lebanese Christians over the violence in Darfur or
a "diplomatic" position in harmony with the broader consensus
within the Arab League. Lebanon has no position as yet on
the specific issue of the proposed UN/African Union
Peacekeeping Operation.
FELTMAN