Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT540
2007-04-18 13:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: MINISTERIAL DELEGATION TO ICI MEETING
VZCZCXRO9327 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #0540 1081334 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 181334Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7947 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 1022
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000540
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/FO:ATACHCO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL PTER EAID EFIN UN GCC IZ LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: MINISTERIAL DELEGATION TO ICI MEETING
UNLIKELY
REF: STATE 46243
Polchief discussed the May 3 International Compact with Iraq
meeting with Oussama Khacchab, Americas and Multilateral
Affairs officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After
consulting with his colleagues, Khacchab reported that the
prevailing view at the MFA is that Lebanon, as a small
country going through its own political and economic crisis,
has little to offer Iraq and would likely not send a
delegation from Beirut to either the May 3 or May 4 meeting
in Sharm el-Sheikh. Polchief told Khacchab that while
material support may not be possible, Lebanon can still make
a gesture demonstrating political support for Iraq by sending
as high-level a representative as feasible to the May 3
meeting. Khacchab noted that since the MFA is without its
minister, who resigned in November along with the other Shia
ministers in Lebanon's cabinet, ministerial-level
representation at the meeting is extremely unlikely. He
promised, however, to take up the matter with the MFA's
Director-General Ambassador Dimachkie, who is in Cairo now
and will return at the end of the week. We will see Khacchab
again April 24 and may have an update to report.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/FO:ATACHCO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL PTER EAID EFIN UN GCC IZ LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: MINISTERIAL DELEGATION TO ICI MEETING
UNLIKELY
REF: STATE 46243
Polchief discussed the May 3 International Compact with Iraq
meeting with Oussama Khacchab, Americas and Multilateral
Affairs officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After
consulting with his colleagues, Khacchab reported that the
prevailing view at the MFA is that Lebanon, as a small
country going through its own political and economic crisis,
has little to offer Iraq and would likely not send a
delegation from Beirut to either the May 3 or May 4 meeting
in Sharm el-Sheikh. Polchief told Khacchab that while
material support may not be possible, Lebanon can still make
a gesture demonstrating political support for Iraq by sending
as high-level a representative as feasible to the May 3
meeting. Khacchab noted that since the MFA is without its
minister, who resigned in November along with the other Shia
ministers in Lebanon's cabinet, ministerial-level
representation at the meeting is extremely unlikely. He
promised, however, to take up the matter with the MFA's
Director-General Ambassador Dimachkie, who is in Cairo now
and will return at the end of the week. We will see Khacchab
again April 24 and may have an update to report.
FELTMAN