SLOVENIA FOLLOWS EU POSITION ON LEBANON CRISIS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000218 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/LEBANON DESK OFFICER MATTHEW IRWIN; EUR/ERA JEFFREY GIAUQUE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL LE SY IR SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA FOLLOWS EU POSITION ON LEBANON CRISIS AND HIZBALLAH REF: SECSTATE 52061 Classified By: CDA Maryruth Coleman for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) On May 19, EmbOff delivered reftel points to Miljan Majhen, MFA Minister Plenipotentiary in the Division for Asia, Africa and the Pacific and European Union (EU) COMEM and COMAG Chair, conveying strong support of the Arab League's mediation of the Lebanon crisis and for the agreement announced in Beirut on May 15. EmbOff also urged that Slovenia issue public and private statements condemning Hizballah's actions, designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, and pressure Hizballah's backers to end support for Hizballah and other terrorist groups and comply fully with relevant UNSCRs. Majhen noted that Slovenia, in its current role of holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, issued a declaration on May 16 welcoming the positive outcome of the mediation by the Arab League and Qatar and calling on Lebanese parties to restart a dialogue aimed at the full resumption of functioning democratic institutions in Lebanon. ¶2. (C) Majhen also stated that the EU fully supports the Arab League proposal for a resolution to the current crisis as well as the adoption of an election law and the formation of a new government. He noted that there has been no change in the EU's position regarding the designation of Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, but that he would convey the U.S. request to his EU colleagues. COLEMAN