QATAR LEAVING UNIFIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 012556

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018
TAGS: LE PGOV PREL QA
SUBJECT: QATAR LEAVING UNIFIL

REF: IIR 6 857 0075 08

Classified By: NEA Acting A/S Robert M. Danin
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs
three and four.

Summary
--------------


2. (C) Qatar, the only Arab troop contributor to the UN
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),plans to withdraw its 203
troops on/around February 10. Qatar's participation in
UNIFIL sends an important political message of Arab backing
for the peacekeeping mission and gives Qatar a stake in the
outcome of Lebanon's political crisis. We would like Qatar
to maintain its contribution -- at least until August 2008 as
requested by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
(DPKO) -- or be replaced by another Arab troop contributor.

Objectives
--------------


3. (SBU) Department requests Embassy Doha pursue the
following objectives:

-- Seek Qatar's agreement to maintain its troop contribution
to UNIFIL, at least through August 2008 as requested by DPKO.
Request Qatar direct their response to DPKO's Office of
Force Generation Services (FGS) via their permanent mission
to the UN.

-- If Qatar is unable to maintain its troop contribution,
request its intercession with other Gulf Cooperation Council
or Arab League member states to request they consider
replacing Qatar as Arab troop contributors.


4. (SBU) Department requests all other action addressees
pursue the following objective:

-- Seek host nation agreement to contribute troops to UNIFIL.
Request interested host nations contact DPKO FGS via their
permanent missions to the UN.

Reporting Deadline
--------------


5. (U) Posts should report responses to this demarche to
NEA/ELA Matthew Irwin and IO/PSC Larry Mrozinski by February

12.

Additional Background
--------------


6. (C) Qatar's contribution of 203 troops to UNIFIL in the
aftermath of the 2006 Israel-Hizballah war sent an important
message of Arab support for a peacekeeping mission otherwise
dominated by Western troops. As Qatar enjoys closer ties to
Iran than many of its neighbors in the Gulf, its contribution
also signaled support for the eviction of Iranian-supported
Hizballah militants from southern Lebanon.


7. (C) In recent months, Qatar has played an increasingly
problematic role vis-a-vis Lebanon's presidential election,
allegedly working with Syria to sway Arab League mediation
efforts in favor of Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition,
including Hizballah. The Department and much of the
international community are concerned that an opposition
victory leading to greater influence over Lebanon's
presidency and cabinet would impede progress towards the
disarmament of militias in Lebanon, including Hizballah, and
increase the likelihood that another internal or regional
conflict would engulf Lebanon and UNIFIL.


8. (C) According to DPKO FGS, Qatar cited "internal reasons"
in its decision to withdraw from UNIFIL. On December 27,
2007, DPKO sent a letter to Qatar's permanent mission to the
UN requesting Qatar postpone its withdrawal from UNIFIL until
at least August 2008. DPKO FGS has to date been unsuccesful
in securing another Arab troop contributor to replace Qatar.
As Lebanon's democratically-elected government continues to
withstand political and physical attacks from militant groups
and the Syrian-backed Lebanese opposition, it is vital to
maintain real and perceived Arab solidarity in support of
Lebanon, including support for UNIFIL.
RICE