Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LUXEMBOURG12
2007-01-09 07:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Luxembourg
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR WAGNER PRESSES AFGHANISTAN AND MIDDLE

Tags:  NATO PGOV PREL LU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLE #0012 0090714
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 090714Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5724
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0623
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000012 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2017
TAGS: NATO PGOV PREL LU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WAGNER PRESSES AFGHANISTAN AND MIDDLE
EAST ISSUES WITH FOREIGN MINISTER ASSELBORN

Classified By: DCM Steven Kraft for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000012

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2017
TAGS: NATO PGOV PREL LU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WAGNER PRESSES AFGHANISTAN AND MIDDLE
EAST ISSUES WITH FOREIGN MINISTER ASSELBORN

Classified By: DCM Steven Kraft for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On January 8, Ambassador Wagner met with Luxembourg
Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn. She outlined four priorities
for the USG in the Middle East: success in Iraq; the MEPP;
stability in Lebanon; and Iran. She noted that the U.S.
would vigorously support creation of an independent
Palestinian State as a key element in stabilizing the Middle
East. She also told the FM that Syria and Iran's economic
and political dominance in Lebanon was a serious challenge
that had to be countered and that the U.S. was developing
additional ideas in this area.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador also told him that the U.S. will
soon be engaging with its partners to increase financial
support of NATO provincial rescontruction efforts in
Afghanistan and that Luxembourg could play a role in this
regard. She emphasized that Europe needs to stay focused on
seeing Kosovo successfully through the coming critical
months.


3. (C) The Foreign Minister appreciated the Ambassador's
comments and indicated he planned to attend the Lebanon
international donor's conference in Paris January 25 and the
January 26 NATO Ministerial. His principal substantive
comment on the Ambassador's points concerned Syria.
Asselborn echoed Prime Minister Juncker's opinion that Syria
is the key to many of the problems in Lebanon, Iraq, and
elsewhere in the Middle East and should be engaged at senior
levels. Finally, he encouraged Secretary Rice to become more
closely involved with the Quartet and said he welcomes the
news on the MEPP.
WAGNER