LIBYA: DEMARCHE IN PREPARATION FOR MAR 5-6 AL MINISTERIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000168 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/RA (PALLARES) AND NEA/MAG (JOHNSON) E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/3/2018 TAGS: PREL AL IZ KV LE SY LY SUBJECT: LIBYA: DEMARCHE IN PREPARATION FOR MAR 5-6 AL MINISTERIAL MEETING REF: STATE 19473 CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Stevens, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, Dept of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) (C) P/E Chief delivered reftel demache points to MFA Americas Desk Officer Muhammad Ayab February 28, stressing the need for positive movement to facilitate Lebanese presidential elections, early Arab League recognition of Kosovo's independence and pressuring Syria to take active steps to prevent foreign fighters from transiting its territory en route to Iraq. Ayab said he would convey the points to the Secretary for the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (Foreign Minister-equivalent) Abdulrahman Shalgham. He said the GOL would refrain from any public statement on Kosovo's independence until the Arab League had made clear its position. (Comment: We have also heard that the GOL was waiting for the Organization of Islamic Conferences to pronounce on Kosovo. End comment.) Any further substantive response will be reported septel. STEVENS