Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT1009
2008-07-11 16:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: GOL UNLIKELY TO FUND PALESTINIAN
how-toVZCZCXRO5083 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #1009 1931641 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111641Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2451 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2596 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2877 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS BEIRUT 001009
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG KPAL IS PGOV PREL ECON LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL UNLIKELY TO FUND PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY AT THIS TIME
REF: SECSTATE 71463
UNCLAS BEIRUT 001009
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG KPAL IS PGOV PREL ECON LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL UNLIKELY TO FUND PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY AT THIS TIME
REF: SECSTATE 71463
1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche on supporting the
Palestinian Authority to Oussama Khachab and Rana Mokaddem,
officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Acknowledging
the financial challenges faced by the PA, the MFA officials
said it was nevertheless not financially feasible for Lebanon
to provide assistance to the PA at this time. Mokaddem
explained that, given that international donors conferences
are being held to garner support for Lebanon (citing in
particular the Vienna donors conference held last month in
support of reconstructing the Palestinian refugee camp Nahr
al-Barid),the GOL could not afford to support the PA.
2. (SBU) When asked about the outstanding pledge from the
2002 Arab League summit, Mokkadem and contacts at the
Ministry of Finance confirmed that the GOL has not made any
payments on this pledge or on any other outstanding
commitments to the PA. Mokkadem clarified that the amount
pledged by Lebanon was actually determined by the Arab
League, which sets the pledge amounts for all member states.
It is likely that Lebanon never intended to pay this amount,
she said. She concluded that the GOL would not be able to
meet the pledge, while acknowledging that a smaller, symbolic
amount (less than $1 million) could be plausible. She said
she would explore this further.
GRANT
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG KPAL IS PGOV PREL ECON LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL UNLIKELY TO FUND PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY AT THIS TIME
REF: SECSTATE 71463
1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche on supporting the
Palestinian Authority to Oussama Khachab and Rana Mokaddem,
officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Acknowledging
the financial challenges faced by the PA, the MFA officials
said it was nevertheless not financially feasible for Lebanon
to provide assistance to the PA at this time. Mokaddem
explained that, given that international donors conferences
are being held to garner support for Lebanon (citing in
particular the Vienna donors conference held last month in
support of reconstructing the Palestinian refugee camp Nahr
al-Barid),the GOL could not afford to support the PA.
2. (SBU) When asked about the outstanding pledge from the
2002 Arab League summit, Mokkadem and contacts at the
Ministry of Finance confirmed that the GOL has not made any
payments on this pledge or on any other outstanding
commitments to the PA. Mokkadem clarified that the amount
pledged by Lebanon was actually determined by the Arab
League, which sets the pledge amounts for all member states.
It is likely that Lebanon never intended to pay this amount,
she said. She concluded that the GOL would not be able to
meet the pledge, while acknowledging that a smaller, symbolic
amount (less than $1 million) could be plausible. She said
she would explore this further.
GRANT