AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS REQUEST TO BUILD ON ARAB

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000502 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/ERA JEFFREY GAIUQUE DEPT. ALSO FOR NEA/ELA FOR MATTHEW IRWING AND EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2018 TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS REQUEST TO BUILD ON ARAB LEAGUE EFFORTS FOR LEBANON REF: STATE 52061 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Grace C. Stettenbauer for reasons 1.4( b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Charge and Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Deborah Stokes, First Assistant Secretary, and Andrea Faulkner, Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia, Middle East and Africa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Stokes advised that the GOA would look closely at the reftel points and advise after further consultation within the government. ¶2. (C/NF) Stokes indicated that the GOA has been alarmed by recent events in Lebanon. Stokes and Faulkner shared that the GOA has been reviewing its terrorist designation for Hizballah relevant to Australian consular affairs in Lebanon. Given Hizballah's recent gains in "territory", the points and degree of contact with Hizballah, as well as the desirability of such contact, are being reconsidered. The GOA estimates there are 25,000 Australians in Lebanon. There was also an initial reaction that the U.S. description of Australia's designation of only Hizballah's "External Security Organization" as terrorist was perhaps too narrow. Faulkner agreed to check and advise of any differences. ¶3. (C) In anticipation of further questions from the GOA regarding the possible recall of ambassadors from Syria or Iran, we request guidance from the Department on possible parallel or other U.S. action. STETTENBAUER