LEBANON: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001310 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, PM/FO ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, WARLICK P FOR HMUSTAFA, RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR ABRAMS/YERGER/MCDERMOTT DOD/OSD A/S LONG E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT SLEIMAN Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador presented her credentials to President Michel Sleiman in a ceremony at Baabda Palace on September 4 that also included Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and MFA Chief of Protocol George Siam. A/DCM, DATT, Pol/Econ Chief, Consul, and ARSO Officer also attended the half-hour event, which included a military welcome and playing of both countries' national anthems, followed by a press spray, meeting and champagne toast, with the entire cast dressed in white, per presidential palace protocol. ¶2. (C) Sleiman pledged his commitment to Lebanon's democracy and the protection of human rights; thanked the U.S. for its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Internal Security Forces (ISF); highlighted the importance of resolving Sheba'a Farms; reiterated his commitment to supporting humanitarian aspects of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, while stressing the need for the international community to focus on the right of return; and noted the importance of regional issues for Lebanon. He also highlighted the strong ties the Lebanese-American community retain with the mother country. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador raised preparations for Sleiman's upcoming visit to Washington, noting that President Bush had extended the invitation on May 26, the day after Sleiman took office. She relayed that there would be great interest in Washington on Sleiman's views on implementation of UNSCR 1701, developments in Lebanon with the launch of the National Dialogue and lead-up to the spring 2009 parliamentary elections, and regional developments, including Sleiman's recent trips to Syria and Qatar and President Sarkozy's meeting with Turkey, Syria, and Qatar in Damascus. (Note: Sleiman plans to visit Saudi Arabia and probably Egypt before Washington, and Iran sometime after his U.S. trip. End note.) The Ambassador also stressed the robust relationship between the two countries and continuing U.S. support for Lebanon. SISON