LIBERIA SEEKS U.S. GUIDANCE ON MEETINGS WITH PA

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000957 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO, NEA, AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL IS LI SUBJECT: LIBERIA SEEKS U.S. GUIDANCE ON MEETINGS WITH PA LEADERSHIP Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 B/D. ¶1. (U) See action request in paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) Liberian Permanent Representative Milton Barnes met with AMB Khalilzad on November 11 to discuss President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's mid-November state visit to Israel. AMB Barnes said that the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had instructed him to inquire whether the U.S. had any objection to President Sirleaf meeting with moderate Palestinian leaders during her visit to Israel. ¶3. (C) AMB Khalilzad responded that the U.S. "thinks very highly" of Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and he saw no reason why President Sirleaf should not meet with them. AMB Khalilzad noted that the Secretary is currently in the Middle East working with Palestinian and Israeli leaders to forge a Middle East peace plan. AMB Khalilzad said he would follow up with a more formal response, but that the Liberian Permanent Mission should also check with the Israelis so as not to raise any concerns on their part. AMB Barnes said that he planned to pose the same question to the Israeli Mission in New York as well. ¶4. (U) USUN requests the Department's guidance on an appropriate response AMB Barnes. Khalilzad