Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT446
2007-03-27 12:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
NON-PAPER ON UNSCR 1747 DELIVERED
how-toVZCZCXRO6380 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #0446 0861241 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271241Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7790 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000446
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2027
TAGS: PREL PTER PARM LE IR SY
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER ON UNSCR 1747 DELIVERED
REF: STATE 37801
Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador, per 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000446
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2027
TAGS: PREL PTER PARM LE IR SY
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER ON UNSCR 1747 DELIVERED
REF: STATE 37801
Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador, per 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On 3/26, the Ambassador met Mohamed Chatah, Senior
Advisor to PM Fouad Siniora, to discuss UNSCR 1747 and
deliver reftel's non-paper on the importance of the
resolution. Chatah, who acknowledged that neither he nor
Siniora had as yet read the resolution's text, was intrigued
by the language in OP5 brought to his attention by the
Ambassador regarding the ban on Iranian arms exports. Chatah
agreed that this was an important tool to use in combatting
arms smuggling across the Syrian border into Lebanon.
2. (C) The Ambassador emphasized to Chatah that, per OP8 of
the resolution, Lebanon will be expected to report by May 24
what it is doing to facilitate compliance with the
resolution. Given the certainty that Hizballah continues to
smuggle arms from Iran via Syria, there will be lots of
attention, the Ambassador cautioned, to Lebanon's
OP8-mandated report. Chatah promised to raise the issue with
PM Siniora immediately to plot a strategy.
3. (C) Comment: While UNSCR 1747 has received plenty of
straight news coverage in Lebanon as a regional issue, the
fact that there is direct relevance to Lebanon has been
missed by all the major media here. In our view, the arms
embargo part of UNSCR 1747 -- taken under legally-binding
Chapter VII authority -- should be highlighted here as a
locally relevant issue. We are talking with a wide variety
of Lebanese political figures in order to provoke a
discussion of 1747 locally. And we also suggested to UN
Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen that UNSYG Ban
Ki-Moon, when he meets with Lebanese here on Friday, raise
UNSCR 1747 as an important resolution for Lebanon, consistent
with the goals of UNSCRs 1559 and 1701. End comment.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2027
TAGS: PREL PTER PARM LE IR SY
SUBJECT: NON-PAPER ON UNSCR 1747 DELIVERED
REF: STATE 37801
Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador, per 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On 3/26, the Ambassador met Mohamed Chatah, Senior
Advisor to PM Fouad Siniora, to discuss UNSCR 1747 and
deliver reftel's non-paper on the importance of the
resolution. Chatah, who acknowledged that neither he nor
Siniora had as yet read the resolution's text, was intrigued
by the language in OP5 brought to his attention by the
Ambassador regarding the ban on Iranian arms exports. Chatah
agreed that this was an important tool to use in combatting
arms smuggling across the Syrian border into Lebanon.
2. (C) The Ambassador emphasized to Chatah that, per OP8 of
the resolution, Lebanon will be expected to report by May 24
what it is doing to facilitate compliance with the
resolution. Given the certainty that Hizballah continues to
smuggle arms from Iran via Syria, there will be lots of
attention, the Ambassador cautioned, to Lebanon's
OP8-mandated report. Chatah promised to raise the issue with
PM Siniora immediately to plot a strategy.
3. (C) Comment: While UNSCR 1747 has received plenty of
straight news coverage in Lebanon as a regional issue, the
fact that there is direct relevance to Lebanon has been
missed by all the major media here. In our view, the arms
embargo part of UNSCR 1747 -- taken under legally-binding
Chapter VII authority -- should be highlighted here as a
locally relevant issue. We are talking with a wide variety
of Lebanese political figures in order to provoke a
discussion of 1747 locally. And we also suggested to UN
Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen that UNSYG Ban
Ki-Moon, when he meets with Lebanese here on Friday, raise
UNSCR 1747 as an important resolution for Lebanon, consistent
with the goals of UNSCRs 1559 and 1701. End comment.
FELTMAN