Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRAGUE1084
2007-09-20 12:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECH REPUBLIC: EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHPG #1084 2631224 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 201224Z SEP 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9642 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0056 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0120
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001084
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA FOR MATTHEW IRWIN, EUR/NCE FOR ALEX TRATENSEK,
EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2012
TAGS: EU EZ PGOV PREL IS SY LE
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON
REF: SECSTATE 128335
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001084
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA FOR MATTHEW IRWIN, EUR/NCE FOR ALEX TRATENSEK,
EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2012
TAGS: EU EZ PGOV PREL IS SY LE
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON
REF: SECSTATE 128335
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Embassy official met with Czech desk officers for
Syria and Lebanon regarding the Spanish proposal for a
European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) mission on the
Lebanon-Syria border. These Czech officials indicated that
this possible mission, while discussed on September 14 at the
Political and Security Council in Brussels, is still being
debated at the working level and that there have not been any
firm decisions made related to the parameters of such a
mission, let alone a discussion of practical issues such as
who would provide personnel and what they would do. These
officials expressed skepticism about whether Syrian Prime
Minister Asad can be trusted to allow an international
presence on the border, and acknowledged the benefit of
keeping this Lebanon-oriented, rather than Syria-oriented.
Finally, they share US sensitivity to the timing of these
discussions with the Lebanese presidential election
approaching and encouraged the USG to continue to share our
perspective on what could be done to minimize any
repercussions.
GRABER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/ELA FOR MATTHEW IRWIN, EUR/NCE FOR ALEX TRATENSEK,
EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2012
TAGS: EU EZ PGOV PREL IS SY LE
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC: EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON
REF: SECSTATE 128335
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Embassy official met with Czech desk officers for
Syria and Lebanon regarding the Spanish proposal for a
European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) mission on the
Lebanon-Syria border. These Czech officials indicated that
this possible mission, while discussed on September 14 at the
Political and Security Council in Brussels, is still being
debated at the working level and that there have not been any
firm decisions made related to the parameters of such a
mission, let alone a discussion of practical issues such as
who would provide personnel and what they would do. These
officials expressed skepticism about whether Syrian Prime
Minister Asad can be trusted to allow an international
presence on the border, and acknowledged the benefit of
keeping this Lebanon-oriented, rather than Syria-oriented.
Finally, they share US sensitivity to the timing of these
discussions with the Lebanese presidential election
approaching and encouraged the USG to continue to share our
perspective on what could be done to minimize any
repercussions.
GRABER