LEBANON -- SEEKING INDONESIAN SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000232

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, NEA, NEA/ELA (SOMERSET,
IRWIN AND MONZ)
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM LE SY ID
SUBJECT: LEBANON -- SEEKING INDONESIAN SUPPORT

REF: STATE 10786

Classified By: DCM John A. Heffern for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 8.


2. (C) SUMMARY: The DCM delivered reftel demarche to key GOI
official Desra Percaya on February 5, underscored the
importance of international support for the Lebanese
government and urged Indonesia to strengthen its support for
that country. Percaya emphasized Indonesia's support for PM
Siniora's government and agreed that Syrian interference in
Lebanon was unhelpful. However, he questioned the Special
Tribunal's relationship to the broader process of national
reconciliation in Lebanon. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) LEBANON--SUPPORT URGENTLY NEEDED: On February 5, the
DCM delivered reftel demarche to Desra Percaya, Director for
International Security and Disarmament Affairs at the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU),and urged Indonesia to
support the Lebanese government. DCM provided Percaya with a
copy of reftel note verbale, which Mission had already
conveyed to FM Wirajuda's office. The DCM underscored the
importance of public expressions of support for the
legitimate elected government of PM Siniora.


4. (C) Percaya stressed Indonesia's support for the Lebanese
government and said he would convey USG concerns directly
with FM Wirajuda. Percaya noted Indonesia had contributed
troops to UNIFIL and pledged the troops would stay as long as
they were needed. Having troops on the ground heightened GOI
interest in peace and security in Lebanon, Percaya emphasized.


5. (C) SYRIA UNHELPFUL: The DCM said Syrian interference was
destabilizing Lebanon and urged Indonesia to press Damascus.
Percaya agreed Syria was a destabilizing force but asserted
"other neighbors, including Israel" were also interfering in
Lebanon. He explained that FM Wirajuda had urged the Syrian
government to support the legitimately elected government of
Lebanon, most recently when he had met President Assad on the
margins of the UNGA in September 2007. Percaya asked how
Washington had pursued this issue in its discussions with the
Syrian government.


6. (C) TRIBUNAL'S ROLE UNCLEAR: Percaya explained why
Indonesia had abstained on the resolution to establish the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He pointed to differences
within the Lebanese government over the Tribunal's role and
noted that PM Siniora and President Lahud had sent "quite
different letters" on the issue to the UNSC. This GOL
division had resulted in Indonesia's decision to abstain on
UNSCR 1757 authorizing the Tribunal, Percaya explained.


7. (C) The DCM responded that the Tribunal would play the
critical role of bringing to justice those involved in the
murder of former PM Hariri. Percaya agreed this was an
important issue and emphasized that Indonesia did not
question the Tribunal's legitimacy, but worried that the
Tribunal might be "divisive." Percaya requested our
assessment of the Tribunal's role in achieving the
longer-term goal of national reconciliation and the formation
of a unity government in Lebanon.

JAKARTA 00000232 002 OF 002




8. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Mission requests that the
Department provide the following, as requested by Percaya, to
be shared with the GOI:

- a readout of U.S.-Syrian discussions on Lebanon; and
- a statement of USG views on how the Special Tribunal
relates to broader political processes in Lebanon, including
national reconciliation.

HUME