Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT695
2007-05-17 15:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: PM SINIORA CONVOKES UNSC MEMBER STATE

Tags:  PREL UNSC KCRM LE 
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VZCZCXRO8573
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0695 1371509
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 171509Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8209
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000695 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2012
TAGS: PREL UNSC KCRM LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PM SINIORA CONVOKES UNSC MEMBER STATE
MISSIONS ON TRIBUNAL


Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000695

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2012
TAGS: PREL UNSC KCRM LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PM SINIORA CONVOKES UNSC MEMBER STATE
MISSIONS ON TRIBUNAL


Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION: PM Siniora summoned the
chiefs of missions of all UNSC member embassies in Beirut at
6:00 PM on May 16 to make a pitch for UNSC adoption of a
Chapter VII resolution on the Special Tribunal. Present were
the ambassadors of Italy, Russia, China, and Belgium; Charges
or DCM,s attended for the U.S., UK, France, Qatar, and
Indonesia. Siniora gave a spirited account of how the
majority-led government in Beirut has been blocked by
unreasonable opposition tactics that have impeded the
establishment of the tribunal. Modestly challenging
questions came from the Russian Ambassador. The Italian
Ambassador noted privately his government's special concerns,
related to the large Italian presence in the expanded UNIFIL
mission of southern Lebanon. End summary and introduction.


2. (C) Siniora spoke for over an hour, recounting the
history of the Tribunal since consideration of its
establishment began in 2005. He focused especially on the
government,s efforts to engage the opposition openly and
fairly, GOL interaction with the UN system including the
latest mission of UN Legal Advisor Nicolas Michel, and the
refusal of the opposition to reveal its objections to the
Tribunal even though the National Dialogue process of a year
ago had brought unanimous consent for the Tribunal. Siniora
made a comprehensive, logical, and forceful case for the
government, though he never concluded with the politician,s
standard final pitch: "I am asking for your vote."


3. (C) Questions were brief and limited. The Belgian
ambassador asked how the Lebanese judges would be chosen if
the UNSCR adopts a tribunal resolution under Chapter VII.
Siniora replied that he would be sending a delegation to New
York to be available for consultations with the Security
Council and its members. They will be able to address this
question as well as any others. The Belgian ambassador then
asked about financing for the Tribunal, given that the agreed
GOL-UN statute requires 49 percent funding from Lebanon, and
the Lebanese Parliament, now out of session, must appropriate
that money. Siniora replied that funds have not been
approved by Parliament, so other options will have to be
explored.


4. (C) The Russian ambassador asked how the Lebanese
opposition would react if the UNSC adopts the resolution
under Chapter VII. Could they reject it? Siniora commented
that for now, the remarks of opposition politicians imply
that they consider the Tribunal a fait accompli. They may
later consider the Tribunal to be illegitimate, and some
forces might resort to bombings or assassinations. "But that
would be extreme," Siniora added. The Russian ambassador
then said such a resolution would be a qualitatively new
situation, in that part of Lebanon would recognize the
resolution, but another part of Lebanon would not. "How does
the UNSC deal with this difficulty?" he asked. Siniora
replied that the question assumes that the victim is being
blamed. The Russian ambassador,s question should be asked
of the opposition, he asserted.


5. (C) While UNSC embassy reps were waiting to enter the
session with Siniora, the Qatari Charge told DCM that he had
met with Siniora earlier in the day (suggesting that Siniora
had convoked him on the tribunal resolution). During the
meeting, Italian Ambassador Checchia took a call from his
minister, who wanted a status update on the Tribunal.
Checchia confided to DCM that the Italian MFA is divided on
the issue of support for Chapter VII action. The Italians
want early engagement with the P-3 on the drafting of the
resolution text, in light of their substantial UNIFIL
contribution and thus high exposure to possible violence in
Lebanon. Ambassador Checchia followed up with a call on the
Ambassador on the morning of May 17. He repeated the Italian
concerns that Chapter VII adoption of the Special Tribunal
resolution could have implications for internal violence in
Lebanon, including against UNIFIL. He repeated the request
for early P-3 engagement on the resolution, noting that he
was speaking on instructions, and that he believed the
Italian PermRep in New York had received the same
instruction.

FELTMAN