DEMARCHE REQUEST: ATTENDANCE AND DONATIONS FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 060216 SENSITIVE SIPDIS THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL PHUM LE UNRWA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: ATTENDANCE AND DONATIONS FOR JUNE 23 VIENNA CONFERENCE ON RECONSTRUCTION OF LEBANON'S NAHR AL-BARID REFUGEE CAMP ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph three. SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Department requests action addressees to urge host governments to send high-level representatives to the donors' conference to be held in Vienna June 23 and to contribute generously to the joint appeal by the Lebanese government, UNRWA, and the World Bank to reconstruct the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp and revitalize the surrounding areas seriously impacted by last summer's battle against the terrorist group Fatah al-Islam. End summary. OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Posts are requested to approach host governments at the appropriate level to pursue the following objectives: -- Stress the importance of a successful Vienna conference to send a strong signal of international support for Lebanon's new post-Doha government. Prime Minister Siniora himself will attend, indicating the importance of the conference to the Lebanese government. -- Note that the conference will: facilitate the return of Palestinian refugees displaced from their homes after the terrorist group Fatah al-Islam attacked the Lebanese army in summer 2007; help establish a new precedent for relations between Lebanese citizens and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon as well as for security arrangements inside all of Lebanon's refugee camps; set the stage for improved economic conditions for the refugees; and provide a much-needed boost to the new Lebanese government of President Sleiman and Prime Minister Siniora. -- Urge host governments to make generous pledges at the conference and solicit their current expectations for pledges. (Note: For camp reconstruction alone, the estimated need is $279 million over three years, including approximately $240 million for the first year. We expect substantial funding will also be required to address surrounding Lebanese communities.) -- Urge host governments to send high-level representatives to the conference to underscore their support for Lebanon and its new government. Solicit information about their expected delegations. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The June 23 international donors' conference on the reconstruction of the Nahr al-Barid (NAB) Palestinian refugee camp will facilitate the return of Palestinian refugees displaced from their homes during the violence prompted by the terrorist group Fatah al-Islam in summer 2007 and help establish a new precedent for relations between Lebanese citizens and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. ¶5. (SBU) At the conference, the Lebanese government, in partnership with UNRWA and the World Bank, will present a comprehensive plan to rebuild NAB, assist surrounding Lebanese communities, improve economic prospects for NAB residents, and maintain security inside the newly reconstructed camp to prevent another outbreak of violence. The Lebanese government has agreed with Palestinian leaders to station Lebanese police inside the reconstructed camp. Previously, the Palestinians themselves had been responsible for security inside all of Lebanon's refugee camps. ¶6. (SBU) These important initiatives support the goal of the United States and international community to ensure that the Lebanese government is able to manage threats to stability in Lebanon and becomes the nation's sole guarantor of security, reinforcing the message that the government, not Hizballah STATE 00060216 002 OF 002 SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: ATTENDANCE AND DONATIONS FOR JUNE 23 VIENNA CONFERENCE ON RECONSTRUCTION OF LEBANON'S NAHR AL-BARID REFUGEE CA and other militias, can best provide for the needs of the Lebanese people and their Palestinian neighbors. ¶7. (SBU) A successful conference will also provide a much-needed boost to the new Lebanese government of President Sleiman and Prime Minister Siniora. The timing is important, as the role of the Lebanese government was brazenly challenged by the Hizballah-led opposition's violent attacks in May, 2008. Generous pledges and high-level representation will send a strong signal to Hizballah, Syria, and their allies in Lebanon that the international community stands firmly in support of the legitimate Lebanese government. ¶8. (SBU) We are finalizing a significant USG pledge which we plan to announce at the conference. We are also finalizing participation, but expect to be represented by the U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Lebanon, Ambassador Michele Sison. ¶9. (SBU) The Lebanese government has invited the foreign ministers of Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, the Comoros, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Mauratania, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Sweden, Slovakia, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Yemen, as well as representatives from the UN Relief and Works Agency, the World Bank, the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Arab League, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. ¶10. (U) For further information on the donors' conference, contact Monique Ramgoolie in PRM/ANE and NEA Lebanon desk officer Matthew Irwin. ¶11. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. RICE