Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT1300
2008-09-04 15:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: MFA PROVIDES LITLE COMMENT TO UNGA, ARAB

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR PHUM UNGA UN LE SY IS IZ KV 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5337
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #1300/01 2481511
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041511Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2935
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2845
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3073
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001300 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, IO/UNP, EUR/SCE
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM UNGA UN LE SY IS IZ KV
SUBJECT: LEBANON: MFA PROVIDES LITLE COMMENT TO UNGA, ARAB
LEAGUE DEMARCHES

REF: A. SECSTATE 91908

B. SECSTATE 93939

C. SECSTATE 93981

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001300

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, IO/UNP, EUR/SCE
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM UNGA UN LE SY IS IZ KV
SUBJECT: LEBANON: MFA PROVIDES LITLE COMMENT TO UNGA, ARAB
LEAGUE DEMARCHES

REF: A. SECSTATE 91908

B. SECSTATE 93939

C. SECSTATE 93981

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. C) Poloff delivered points on Kosovo, the Arab League
Ministerial, and the UN Third Committee on Human Rights to
Oussama Khachab, Head of the Americas Desk at the Lebanese
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 4. Khachab said he
would relay the points to other offices within the Foreign
Ministry and to the Lebanese mission at the UN. For all UN
matters, Khachab stressed that the GOL prefers to coordinate
with other Arab and Islamic countries before taking a
position.


2. (C) Khachab expected some discussion of the Lebanese
political situation at the Arab League ministerial. However,
he deemed unlikely progress on implementation of UNSCR 1701
due to Israel's recent statements about Lebanon. On other
diplomatic issues, Khachab believed the Lebanese Charge
d'Affaires in Iraq would be upgraded to an ambassadorial
position. In addition, he expected both Lebanon and Syria to
exchange ambassadors before the end of 2008. On domestic
issues, Khachab called President Sleiman "dynamic" and
hard-working. The National Dialogue, he predicted, would not
begin before the start of the UN General Assembly. End
summary.

KOSOVO
--------------


3. (C) Khachab was aware of the Serbian resolution seeking an
International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Kosovo
(Ref A). He stated that the GOL prefers to coordinate with
other Arab and Islamic countries before taking a position.
Other offices within the ministry, such as European Affairs
and International Organizations, Khachab said, are in the
process of developing the GOL position. He offered to
provide an update to the Embassy prior to the start of the UN
General Assembly (UNGA).

ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL
--------------


4. (C) The September 8-9 Arab League Ministerial (Ref B) will
be an opportunity for Lebanon to coordinate with its Arab
partners on upcoming UNGA resolutions, Khachab said. He
expected an update of the political situation in Lebanon to
be on the meeting's agenda. However, Khachab was skeptical
there would be any developments on full implementation of
UNSCR 1701. Khachab admitted that there is still work to be
done, but, he said, Israel's statements about holding the GOL
accountable for Hizballah's actions and Israeli overflights
were not helping.


5. (C) Khachab reported that Lebanon maintains a Charge
d'Affaires in Baghdad. He said it was likely the chief of
mission position would be upgraded to an Ambassador.
However, he did not indicate any specific timeframe. On the
U.S. request that the Arab League reconsider supporting
Syria's candidacy to join the IAEA Board of Governors,
Khachab said he would pass the message.


6. (C) Bilaterally, Khachab predicted Lebanon and Syria would
exchange ambassadors probably before the end of 2008.

UN THIRD COMMITTEE 2008
HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES
--------------


7. (C) Khachab made no substantive comment about the UN Third
Committee on Human Rights (Ref C). Again, he offered to
provide an update to the Embassy if the GOL defines its
position before UNGA.

KHACHAB ON SLEIMAN

BEIRUT 00001300 002 OF 002


--------------


8. (C) President Sleiman, Khachab said, is "dynamic" and
hard-working. He believed Sleiman was considering carefully
the requests to the expand the participation in the National
Dialogue process, but had not made a final decision. The
National Dialogue, he predicted, would not convene until
after Sleiman returned from New York and Washington.
SISON