DPKO RESPONDS ON UNIFIL SALUTE OF HIZBALLAH

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000777 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC KPKO UNSC LE SY IS SUBJECT: DPKO RESPONDS ON UNIFIL SALUTE OF HIZBALLAH REMAINS AND PHOTO OF IMAD MUGHNIYAH REF: A. STATE 87070 ¶B. BEIRUT 1211 ¶C. USUN NEW YORK 732 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff and SMCOff met August 21 with UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Asia and Middle East Division Officer-in-Charge Mary Eliza Kimball and Middle East Team Leader Susan Allee to raise the points from ref A on the UNIFIL contingent's July 17 salute of Hizballah and Palestinian mortal remains and the photo of Imad Mughniyah which was attached to one of the trailers carrying the remains. Kimball and Allee confirmed that the UNIFIL contingent, which had been in the area carrying out their normal duties, had saluted the flag-draped coffins, per their national service's custom, and likely did not realize whose photo it was. Both Kimball and Allee said they had not found it acceptable when they learned of the salute. They said the UNIFIL Force Commander was now alert to this type of problem, everyone's consciousness had been raised, and caution would be exercised in the future. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador DiCarlo raised the same points from ref A with DPKO Assistant Secretary General Edmond Mulet on August 25. He confirmed that the UNIFIL contingent was not aware that the photo was of Imad Mughniyah and that UNIFIL staff have been told to be more cautious and attentive to this issue. ¶3. (SBU) In their August 21 meeting with DPKO staff, USUNOffs noted to DPKO staff that Embassy Beirut no longer requires an advance submission of information by UNIFIL members scheduled to visit Embassy Beirut, per ref B, and that Embassy Beirut appreciates DPKO's assistance in handling the incidents that were previously discussed with them (ref C). Wolff