Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT304
2008-02-26 19:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: SINIORA ON ARAB LEAGUE, REQUESTS TO ARAB

Tags:  PREL EFIN ENRG EAID CASC SY KV AL IZ 
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DE RUEHLB #0304/01 0571934
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 261934Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1132
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 2267
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000304 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO;
DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018
TAGS: PREL EFIN ENRG EAID CASC SY KV AL IZ
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA ON ARAB LEAGUE, REQUESTS TO ARAB
STATES, EURO TRIP

REF: STATE 19473

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5 (b),
(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000304

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO;
DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018
TAGS: PREL EFIN ENRG EAID CASC SY KV AL IZ
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA ON ARAB LEAGUE, REQUESTS TO ARAB
STATES, EURO TRIP

REF: STATE 19473

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5 (b),
(d)


1. Action Request - see para 13.


2. SUMMARY. Informed by Charge that U.S. would ask Arab
League and GCC capitals to support Lebanon ahead of the March
5-6 Arab League meeting and GCC Ministerial, Lebanese PM
Fouad Siniora asked that the U.S. be more specific in
describing the Lebanese political impasse. He told Charge of
his recent requests to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait for
additional financial support, particularly central bank
deposits of $1 billion each from KSA and UAE and $0.5 billion
from Kuwait. Siniora expressed satisfaction that his trip to
Europe had fostered more support for his government and the
March 14 alliance, adding that EU foreign affairs envoy
Javier Solana will visit Lebanon March 4. End Summary.

ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT ISSUES
--------------


3. (C) Charge Sison, accompanied by DCM, met with PM Fouad
Siniora on February 27 at the Grand Serail. The PM's aides
Mohamed Chatah and Roula Nourredine also attended. Charge
conveyed the demarche regarding Lebanon and other subjects in
preparation for March 5-6 Arab League meeting (reftel). In
reaction, Siniora and his aides expressed strong concern that
the wording on the Lebanon situation did not provide
sufficient justification to motivate other Arab League
members to boycott or lower their representation at the
Damascus Summit.


4. (C) In the discussion that followed, the PM and his aides
suggested changing the demarche language contained in para 3
of reftel. They asked that if possible, U.S. embassies use
the revised language and, in AL capitals where the demarche
had already been delivered, follow up with additional points.

Delete: "Syria is allowing Lebanon's impasse to continue",
which Siniora said implies excessive authority for Syria to

decide on Lebanon's future. Replace with wording that
indicates that Syria (and Iran) are preventing a resolution
to the Lebanese stalemate.

Delete: "Should the Lebanese not elect a president before the
Summit..." which does not explain adequately who in Lebanon
is at fault, they said. Replace with wording that indicates
Syria and Iran and their allies in Lebanon are preventing a
resolution to the impasse.


5. (C) Siniora had no substantive reaction to the other
subjects in the demarche, Kosovo and Iraq. On Kosovo
independence, he revealed that the Russian Ambassador had
visited him and the Foreign Minister to express a negative
view, but had not used strong language about it.

SINIORA ASKS SAUDIS, EMIRATIS AND KUWAITIS FOR FINANCIAL
HELP, AND SOON
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Siniora also discussed his recent trip to Kuwait and
his requests to the Saudi, Kuwaiti and Emirati governments
for financial assistance. With Lebanon facing a government
financing crunch in March, he said that he had asked the
Saudi and UAE governments each to make a deposit of $1
billion in the Lebanese central bank and Kuwait to deposit
$0.5 billion to boost confidence and help Lebanon through a
difficult period. He said he had followed up in writing to
all three repeating his request.


7. (C) Siniora asked that the USG follow up with the three
Gulf states to underscore the urgency of the request (note:
the promised Saudi $1 billion deposit has not arrived in
Lebanon yet. End note).


8. (C) Siniora also asked Kuwait to assume the task of
overhauling Lebanon's two main electricity generation plants,
a project totaling $80 million, and for better terms for
Lebanese petroleum purchases (paying interest of LIBOR,
instead of "LIBOR plus", he said). His primary interlocutor
was the Kuwaiti prime minister. Siniora was in Kuwait when
the controversy arose over a ceremony honoring slain
Hizballah leader Imad Mughniya. He did not see the Kuwaiti

BEIRUT 00000304 002 OF 002


emir, as he normally does because, he said, the emir was ill.
Siniora said he spoke to emir later, from Europe, and the
emir was absorbed with the controversy and very angry about
it.


9. (C) Charge asked about Siniora's meeting with Egyptian
president Mubarak. Mubarak is skeptical of the Syrians and
skeptical of convening the Arab Summit, Siniora said, and
thinks thre needs to be stronger efforts with the Syrians.Siniora said 14 of the Arab League members had indcated they
would attend the Summit at a high level. Lebanon still has
not received an invitation.

EUROPE: STRONG SUPPORT, AND SOLANA TO BE THE UNIFIED VOICE ON
LEBANON?
-------------- --------------


10. (C) Siniora traveled to UK, France and Germany after his
trip to Egypt, Saudi Arabian and the Gulf. He said he
complained that Europe has "too many voices" speaking out on
Lebanon and urged that instead there be a unified position
and strong message "that Syria understands." French president
Sarkozy agreed and said he would ask for an EU mandate for
Javier Solana. Siniora said he spoke to Solana who would be
coming to Lebanon March 4. The PM said that he got support
from the British and, in Germany, from both Chancellor Merkel
and the Foreign Minister. The German FM had been
disappointed by Syria's reactions to Germany's overture to
Syria, Siniora said, implying that Germany would not make
such a mistake again.


RESIGNED LABOR MINISTER MAY DISRUPT REFORM OF SOCIAL SECURITY
FUND
--------------


11. (C) Charge asked about the case of the resigned Labor
Minister Trad Hamadeh. Hamadeh was one of six cabinet
members who offered their resignations and left the cabinet
in November 2006. He recently returned to work and rumors in
Beirut suggest the reason is to affect the outcome of
upcoming election to the board of directors of the National
Social Security Fund. Siniora described efforts he made as
Finance Minister to reform the Fund's board and the limited
success he had. The Fund is in great need for reform, and
Hamadeh, Siniora said, is returning to try to slow that
reform.

BILATERAL ISSUES: MARKABAWI CASE; FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
-------------- --------------


12. (C) Charge asked for the PM's help with the case of an
Amcit child, Kristin Markabawi. Her Syrian mother fears that
she, Kristin and Kristin's sister will be prevented from
departing Lebanon for the U.S. because of actions by the
child's Syrian father. Siniora promised his office would
contact relevant GOL agencies to check on the case. Charge
also asked for assistance addressing the foot dragging in the
MFA on the long-stalled bilateral agreement governing U.S.
foreign assistance to Lebanon.


13. (C) ACTION REQUEST. In light of PM Siniora's comments,
Embassy recommends Department take the following two actions.
First, ask embassies in Arab League members who have
received reftel to modify the demarche they deliver, or
deliver a separate message, to reflect Siniora's input (para
2). Second, ask Embassies Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait to
support the recent requests from PM Siniora to their host
governments for their financial assistance.
SISON