UNSC: UNSCR 1701 QUARTERLY CONSULTATIONS -

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 001128

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC IS LE SY
SUBJECT: UNSC: UNSCR 1701 QUARTERLY CONSULTATIONS -
HIGHLIGHTS POSSIBLE MOVEMENT ON GHAJAR; CONTINUED CONCERN
ABOUT HIZBALLAH ARMS

REF: STATE 124111

Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: On November 26, UN Special Coordinator for
Lebanon Michael Williams and DPKO Assistant Secretary-General
Edmund Mulet briefed the Security Council in consultations on
the SYG's UNSCR 1701 quarterly report. Williams noted the
improved political climate in Lebanon but emphasized the
continuing threat to the Lebanese State posed by armed
groups. Both Williams and Mulet referred to the Israeli
offer to start discussions with the UN on northern Ghajar.
Williams stressed the arms embargo as a key element of UNSCR
1701 and new Syrian willingness to cooperate on border
coordination with Lebanon. He said the Syrian FM had clearly
told him that Syria recognizes Sheba'a as Lebanese territory.
In response to questions from member states, Mulet noted
that LAF redeployments out of the UNIFIL area of
responsibility would last only until the end of the year and
would be balanced by greater coordination between the LAF and
UNIFIL. Neither Williams nor Mulet had any further
information beyond the one media report about Hizballah
exercises north and south of the Litani. Member states'
interventions echoed the same themes as their comments on
Lebanon in the monthly Middle East consultations. End
summary.


UNSCOL briefing
--------------


2. (SBU) On November 26, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon
Michael Williams and DPKO Assistant Secretary-General Edmund
Mulet briefed the Security Council in consultations on the
SYG's UNSCR 1701 quarterly report. Williams, in his first
briefing to the Council as Special Coordinator, noted his
recent meetings with the President, Prime Minister, and
Speaker in Lebanon and the improved political climate. He
stressed that there had been major political improvements in
Lebanon and between Lebanon and Syria over the last six
months. Nevertheless, he emphasized that one cannot
overstate the threats armed groups in Lebanon pose to the
state and therefore said the national dialogue process is
essential and that he hoped none of the parties would derail
it through short-sighted electoral interests. On landmines
and cluster bombs, he noted the extraordinary progress made
in clearing some 75 percent of the area though significant
areas remain un-cleared. He said having the technical strike
data would help enormously and he would continue to press the
Israeli government for it.


3. (SBU) While he left it to his DPKO counterpart A/SYG
Mulet to speak on recent progress on northern Ghajar,
Williams pledged to work with UNIFIL General Graziano on a
speedy resolution of northern Ghajar. (Note: Later on in the
session, Williams noted his regret that the Israeli response
on Ghajar had only come on November 20 and that it had not
been more positive, given that the IDF had withdrawn from
there in 2000. He said the UN would explore the issue as a
matter of urgency with ISRAEL and he hoped would come to a
resolution. End note.) Williams stressed that the arms
embargo is a key element of 1701 but noted that the Syrians
had stressed to him that they are not involved in arms
transfers and want to cooperate with enforcement of their
border with Lebanon. He noted that there had been some
progress on increased border coordination between the two
sides and welcomed the November 10 meeting in Damascus
between the Lebanese Interior Minister and his Syrian
counterpart. Williams said he was looking for the exchange
of ambassadors between Lebanon and Syria before the end of
the year but noted there had been no progress made on border
delineation. He said he would move forward to engage all of
the parties on Sheba'a and noted that Israeli authorities
have invited him to visit Sheba'a. In response to a French
question, he said the Syrian FM had very clearly told him
that Syria recognizes Sheba'a as Lebanese though Syria was
not willing to assist the UN with maps or other documentation
(in response to the UN's 2007 letter).

DPKO briefing
--------------


4. (SBU) DPKO A/SYG Mulet noted that UNIFIL continues to
"assertively perform" 400 patrols per day, including 100 at
night. He did announce, that since the publication of the
quarterly report, Israeli FM Livni had conveyed to the SYG on
November 20 a willingness to initiate discussions on northern
Ghajar but had set no date for an Israeli withdrawal. Mulet
said the SYG had conveyed the Israeli decision to Lebanese PM
Siniora on November 21. He said that while the modalities

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can be discussed, ISRAEL is obliged to withdraw and noted
that it would strengthen security in the area and show that a
solution can be found diplomatically. He also noted one Blue
Line incident since the report's publication - eight IDF
soldiers crossed the Blue Line on November 18 and a UNIFIL
contingent immediately intervened. Mulet said the crossing
was inadvertent but that it demonstrated another reason to
visibly mark the Blue Line. He noted that continuous Israeli
overflights are violations of 1701 and should stop. He
reiterated the outstanding request for the cluster munitions
strike data and referred to the September death of a Belgian
peacekeeper while de-mining.


5. (C) Mulet obliquely referred to LAF redeployments out of
the AOR by saying there was heightened UNIFIL and LAF
cooperation given LAF responsibilities elsewhere (i.e.
significant redeployments). Several states later asked Mulet
about LAF redeployments out of the UNIFIL area of
responsibility (AOR),to which Mulet responded that the LAF
said they would be temporary and would be balanced with
greater coordination between the LAF and UNIFIL. He said
that the LAF numbers in the AOR would be increased by the end
of this year. Mulet did not mention any of the violations
from the AOR noted in the report, such as the freedom of
movement violations and the individuals found with firearms.
(Comment: Ambassador Wolff did specifically comment to Mulet
afterwards that he had found his briefing to be one-sided and
that he expected it would be more balanced in the future.
End comment.)

Member states comment on situation
--------------


6. (SBU) Following Williams and Mulet's briefing in
consultations, 13 member states spoke, along the same themes
as their comments on Lebanon in the monthly Middle East
consultations. The French PolCouns and UK DPR stressed their
concerns about Hizballah rearming. On border management, the
UK called for Lebanese ownership of the issue, but they were
supportive of the Prime Minister's proposed donor steering
committee. They noted their concerns that LAF deployment
remains under-strength and asked if it would be reinforced.
The Croatian PR also voiced concern that the key provisions
of 1701 have not been met, specifically that armed groups
remain a serious threat to the state. He welcomed steps by
Lebanon and Syria to move forward on border delineation and
supported the SYG's efforts on Sheba'a. The Belgian
representative said the current window of opportunity with
the improvement in the political situation must be used
wisely. He called for a strengthened arms embargo, progress
on Sheba'a and Ghajar, and stressed Belgium's commitment to
UNIFIL and noted that Belgium will soon take over the
maritime section. Ambassador Wolff gave the U.S. remarks
(largely drawn from reftel) and emphasized that the
rearmament of Hizballah remains the most important matter for
the Council to consider in Lebanon with regard to the
maintenance of international peace and security.


7. (SBU) The Russian DPR also recognized the positive shift
in the Lebanese political situation and highlighted the
Lebanese Interior Minister's visit to Damascus as the "recipe
for future success." He, too, called for a strengthening of
border security along the Syrian-Lebanese border and noted
his disappointment with continued Israeli overflights which
he termed a violation of 1701 and a blow to the GOL. The
Libyan DPR said the Council should not intervene in the
internal affairs of the Lebanese state but did note the
positive political events of the last six months. He
reaffirmed the territorial integrity of Lebanon and condemned
Israeli overflights. He said the GOL has complied with UNSCR
1701, aside from the requirement to deal with militia
weaponry which he described as a delicate matter that must be
handled politically and domestically. The Indonesian DPR
voiced concern that the main goal of UNSCR 1701 (a permanent
cease-fire) is far from a reality. He called for visibly
marking the Blue line, an end to overflights, a resolution of
cluster munitions, an end to the occupation of northern
Ghajar, the disarmament of militias through a Lebanese-led
process, progress on the arms embargo, and voiced Indonesia's
continued commitment as a troop contributor to UNIFIL.

Media report of Hizballah exercises
--------------


8. (SBU) The UK DPR was the first to raise the media report
about Hizballah exercises north and south of the Litani and
asked if more could be said about that. Ambassador Wolff
also raised the matter in the U.S. statement, as did the
Croatians. After member states' statements, both Williams
and Mulet commented. Williams said that there was only one

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