ARAB LEAGUE AND GOE ON LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003427

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV LE EG
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE AND GOE ON LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION

REF: A. SECSTATE 163945


B. CAIRO 3412

Classified By: Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone
REASONS: 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Ambassador raised with Arab League Secretary General
Amre Moussa today (December 6) the need for a rapid Lebanese
Presidential election. Moussa said he understood the
Lebanese were working into the evening on a deal that would
allow the election to proceed on December 7. He agreed the
election should happen soon and without conditions. However,
he said that "Michel Aoun is blocking everything," and that
if he were to call Aoun it would only be counter-productive.


2. (C) In addition to our discussion with MFA Cabinet Advisor
Nazih el Neggary (ref b),we spoke later today with Deputy
Assistant Minister for Arab Affairs Ayman Zeineldeen. He
reiterated the GOE position that the presidential election
should be held as soon as possible, and that there should not
be additional conditions imposed on the Lebanese majority.
He said that President Mubarak and FM Aboul Gheit had spoken
with Lebanese political leaders throughout the week to push
this message. Finally, Ambassador urged Presidential
Spokesman Soliman Awad (traveling with President Mubarak from
Greece to Lisbon) by text-message to issue a statement in
support of a rapid election.
RICCIARDONE