ARAB LEAGUE SYG MOUSSA DISCUSSES REGIONAL ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 002316

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FO AND NEA/RA; NSC FOR PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL LE SY IZ EG
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE SYG MOUSSA DISCUSSES REGIONAL ISSUES
WITH PDAS FELTMAN

Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey
Reason: 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary. Arab League Secretary General Moussa
discussed Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, and the global financial crisis during an October
26 meeting with visiting NEA PDAS Feltman and the Ambassador.
Moussa said that the situation in Lebanon has improved
markedly over the past six months, but still needs attention.
He characterized Syrian behavior with respect to Lebanon as
"satisfactory enough." Moussa acknowledged progress in Iraq,
but worried that sectarian tensions could re-ignite,
especially if the status of forces (SOFA) negotiations
falter. He reiterated long-standing Arab League complaints
on Israeli settlement activity, and urged that the Arab world
be included in international fora to address the global
financial crisis. End summary.


2. (C) PDAS Feltman asked Moussa for an assessment on
Lebanon, noting that we are watching the situation in the
north as well as the recent resignation of Deputy Foreign
Minister Abu Jamra with some concern. Moussa said that
"we've succeeded in getting Lebanon right," through a chain
of positive steps beginning with the Doha talks. The current
trend is toward reconciliation, he said. Moussa
characterized Abu Jamra's resignation as "trivial" and
understood that Abu Jamra had attended a recent cabinet
meeting, resignation notwithstanding. He recognized that
there will still be some problems, and that "regional
influences" need to be monitored, as well as any indication
that Lebanese political conciliation may falter. Although
the mood is good, full "conciliation" has yet to be achieved,
especially in the Christian community. He said that he
appreciated President Sleiman but doesn't envy him.
Political players such as Michel Aoun are competing for
power.


3. (C) Moussa believed that Syrian performance with respect
to Lebanon was "sufficient enough." He opined that Damascus
is waiting for the next American administration before taking
any additional steps on Lebanon or on regional policy; he
admitted that European outreach to Damascus has not moved the
Syrians as far as he would have hoped. Moussa said he
believes that Syria realizes it will not return to Lebanon
militarily, but instead will re-calibrate to maintain
influence, such as through the opening of a new embassy. He
argued that the delineation of the Syria/Lebanon border would
need to include Shebaa Farms. PDAS Feltman said that our
regional priorities, including on Syria/Lebanon, were not
likely to change with a new administration. Moussa said that
the USG needs to focus on the "main problems" as opposed to
"derivatives," e.g. focus on Shebaa Farms as opposed to
disarming Hizballah, an approach that would "remove the
pretext" that Hizballah uses regarding its arms. He argued
that the Israel-Lebanon border is not only an issue for
Lebanon but for the Arab League. PDAS Feltman said he
expects the border issue would eventually come up in the
Turkish-sponsored Israel-Syria indirect talks. Moussa was
pessimistic; he assessed that both the Israelis and Syrians
benefit from the process of these talks, but neither will
press for substantive progress absent a USG role.


4. (C) Moussa argued that Israeli settlement activity needs
to be confronted by the USG in order for meaningful progress
on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. He agreed that it
is important to record progress made in the negotiations in
order to maintain the process and ensure the new American
administration can engage quickly. But, he argued that more
than "de minimis steps" were needeed. Moussa was downcast on
prospects for intra-Palestinian reconciliation.


5. (C) Moussa assessed that Iraq remained fragile. Sectarian
conciliation has not gone as far as it needs to, he said.
The Sunnis, Shia and Kurds need to get used to working
together; he worried that recent reports of killings of Iraqi
Christians was a "bad signal." He said that Iraq's army,
police and judiciary still needed a lot of work. How can
they protect Iraq against the "strong hands at play" such as
Iran?


6. (C) Moussa said that the Arab League would not be able to
support any status of forces agreement (SOFA) without seeing
the text first. He said that Iraqi FM Zebari has sent him an
early draft, but he understood that it had changed
significantly. PDAS Feltman said that the current document
would put the Iraqis in control of their country. Moussa
asked if the current United Nations mandate (U.N. Security
Council Resolution 1723) could be extended; PDAS Feltman said
it would be difficult, and that we should focus instead on
signing a SOFA agreement that would put the Iraqis in control

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of their country.


7. (C) PDAS Feltman asked Moussa for advice on dealing with
Iran's regional momentum. Moussa said that the "double
standard" with respect to Iran and Israel's nuclear programs
made it very difficult for the Arab League to be supportive.
Some Arabs believe that Iran's nuclear program serves as a
"balance." The Ambassador urged Moussa to focus on the
reality Iran's program poses to the region. PDAS Feltman
said that the IAEA has been clear. Moussa said that the Arab
League goal is for a "zone free of nuclear weapons" in the
Middle East and that we should adopt this position and begin
talks with both ISRAEL and Iran. Arab League Chief of Staff
Hisham Yousef said that if the USG "identified the principle"
(a nuclear free zone) it would be helpful.
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