GOS RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR LEBANON

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000057 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/NCE, NEA/ELA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL LE LO SY SUBJECT: GOS RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR LEBANON REF: STATE 10786 ¶1. (SBU) With both the Director and the Deputy Director of the MFA's Middle East Bureau away, Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche to Beata Urbanova, Desk Officer for Syria and Lebanon, on February 7. Urbanova underscored strong GOS support for the Siniora government, but was unable during the meeting to provide substantive responses to the specific points raised in the demarche. Urbanova did comment, however, that she thought it would be difficult to gain approval for a financial pledge for the Special Tribunal by February 14. Post will follow up with more senior officials (and with Ministry of Defense) during the week of February 11 and recommends that the issue be raised with Foreign Minister Kubis during his upcoming meeting with the Deputy Secretary. SILVERMAN