LEBANON: UK TO ISSUE PUBLIC STATEMENT, WILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001302 SIPDIS NEA/ELA FOR IRWIN, ALSO FOR CA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018 TAGS: PREL PTER CASC LE SY RU TU UK SUBJECT: LEBANON: UK TO ISSUE PUBLIC STATEMENT, WILL CONSIDER REACHING OUT TO RUSSIANS AND TURKS REF: STATE 49259 Classified By: PolMinCouns Maura Connelly, reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (C) HMG in general, and Foreign Secretary David Miliband in particular, are very concerned about the situation in Lebanon, Miliband's Chief of Staff Matthew Gould told us May ¶9. Miliband is planning to issue a statement the afternoon of May 9 reflecting the points in reftel; he will also call Lebanese FM Siniora, French FM Kouchner, and Secretary Rice, FCO Arab Israel Group Deputy Head Benjamin Saoul said. UK Special Representative for the Middle East Michael Williams called Amal Party leader Nabih Berri and March 14 leader Saad Hariri on May 8 to express UK support, FCO Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Christian Turner told us. Gould and Turner agreed that the UK will explore the possibility of approaching Russia and Turkey to pressure Syria to reign in its allies. Gould noted that Miliband has not yet visited Lebanon as Foreign Minister, although Williams and other HMG officials visit regularly. ¶2. (SBU) The UK has changed its travel advisory to warn against any travel to Lebanon, Turner said, and is reviewing plans to evacuate its nationals if the situation deteriorates further. Saoul requested that the U.S. and UK governments coordinate closely in the run-up to such an evacuation. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom TUTTLE