Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT1642
2008-11-17 16:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: GOL WILL NOT OPPOSE IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXRO2907 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLB #1642 3221609 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171609Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3590 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3177 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3384 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001642
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER/GERMAIN
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL WILL NOT OPPOSE IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
RESOLUTIONS IN THIRD COMMITTEE
REF: SECSTATE 118150
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001642
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER/GERMAIN
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL WILL NOT OPPOSE IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
RESOLUTIONS IN THIRD COMMITTEE
REF: SECSTATE 118150
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Lebanese MFA responded on November 17 to the
reftel demarche PolOff delivered on November 12 on the UN
General Assembly Third Committee human rights resolutions.
Oussama Khachab, Head of the Americas Desk at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, after consulting with the Lebanese Mission
to the UN, reported that the GOL intends to vote "the same as
last year" for all actions.
2. (C) On Iran, Khachab said he expected the GOL to support
Iran by voting Yes on the no-action motion and against the
Iran human rights resolution.
3. (C) For Burma, the GOL will oppose a no-action motion and
will support a substantive resolution, as it did previously.
Regarding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK),
the GOL will maintain its previous position by supporting the
resolution, and if a no-action motion is proposed, the GOL
would oppose the motion.
4. (C) It is highly unlikely Lebanon will take any decision
that would upset Iran, especially in light of President
Michel Sleiman's planned November 24 visit to Tehran.
Moreover, FM Fawzi Salloukh, among other Lebanese officials,
has a close relationship with Iran. Given that Lebanon
traditionally follows the lead of the Arab League on issues
such as this, we recommend USG efforts be focused on getting
the Arab League to advocate abstention on the resolution in
the hope that Lebanon would take the same position.
SISON
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER/GERMAIN
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL WILL NOT OPPOSE IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS
RESOLUTIONS IN THIRD COMMITTEE
REF: SECSTATE 118150
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Lebanese MFA responded on November 17 to the
reftel demarche PolOff delivered on November 12 on the UN
General Assembly Third Committee human rights resolutions.
Oussama Khachab, Head of the Americas Desk at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, after consulting with the Lebanese Mission
to the UN, reported that the GOL intends to vote "the same as
last year" for all actions.
2. (C) On Iran, Khachab said he expected the GOL to support
Iran by voting Yes on the no-action motion and against the
Iran human rights resolution.
3. (C) For Burma, the GOL will oppose a no-action motion and
will support a substantive resolution, as it did previously.
Regarding the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK),
the GOL will maintain its previous position by supporting the
resolution, and if a no-action motion is proposed, the GOL
would oppose the motion.
4. (C) It is highly unlikely Lebanon will take any decision
that would upset Iran, especially in light of President
Michel Sleiman's planned November 24 visit to Tehran.
Moreover, FM Fawzi Salloukh, among other Lebanese officials,
has a close relationship with Iran. Given that Lebanon
traditionally follows the lead of the Arab League on issues
such as this, we recommend USG efforts be focused on getting
the Arab League to advocate abstention on the resolution in
the hope that Lebanon would take the same position.
SISON