Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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09BEIRUT1108 | 2009-10-08 12:46:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Beirut |
VZCZCXRO5394 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #1108 2811246 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081246Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5857 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3643 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4176 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC |
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001108 |
1. (C) SUMMARY: Lebanon, which expects to be elected to the Asia group's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council on October 15, will decide its positions on UNSC issues through consultation among the president's office, the prime minister's office, and the foreign ministry. Its votes will be guided by the Arab League consensus when possible, and when no consensus exists, regional and domestic implications, according to presidential advisor Naji Abi Assi. Regarding Iran, Abi Assi underscored that Lebanon favors diplomatic solutions. The MFA is enlarging its staff in Beirut and New York to accommodate the workload, and Lebanese permrep Nawaf Salam will be empowered to vote on his own prerogative if he does not receive timely instructions, the MFA reports. Although the UNSC seat could aggravate serious domestic policy disagreements over regional issues, the draw of the spotlight has proven strong for the GOL. End summary. TRIPARTITE WILL TAKE DECISIONS -------------------------- 2. (C) Lebanon, which is the uncontested candidate for the Asian non-permanent seat on the UNSC, expects to be elected to the position on October 15. Lebanon's position on matters before the Council will be decided through consultations among the president's office, the prime minister's office and the foreign ministry, presidential advisor Naji Abi Assi told the DCM. According to Abi Assi, decisions on routine matters will fall collectively to him in the president's office, Mohammed Chatah (currently caretaker finance minister) in the prime minister's office, and the MFA. Abi Assi implied that the MFA will play the role of a conduit more than a center of decision-making power. In choosing particular positions, the three will be guided first by the Arab League consensus, and when no consensus exists, they will be guided by factors such as domestic considerations, regional implications, and the impact the issue on Lebanon's neighbors, reported Abi Assi. 3. (C) When queried on how Lebanon will determine how to vote on issues related to Iran, Abi Assi underscored that Lebanon "seeks stability and peace above all" and favors diplomatic solutions. The same principles, he added, would apply to Lebanon's votes in general. Even so, joked Abi Assi, Lebanon's stances on most issues will be "better than Qatar's." MFA STAFFS UP FOR WORKLOAD -------------------------- 4. (C) The GOL is going forward with preparations to absorb the increased workload, MFA U.S. desk officer Majdi Ramadan told poloff. The MFA will double the number of diplomats at its UN mission from five to ten (including Ramadan himself) and provide funding to increase the number of administrative staff despite the ministry's current caretaker status. With regard to upgrading the bureaucratic structure in Beirut, the MFA is creating a special UNSC unit to handle requests for instructions quickly and route them via the minister directly to the president and (in the absence of a new cabinet) to caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. A primary interlocutor for the embassies in Beirut to discuss UNSC issues has not yet been named. Lebanese Permanent Representative Nawaf Salam is, and will be, empowered to vote on his own prerogative if he does not receive timely instructions, Ramadan stated. 5. (C) COMMENT: Although the UNSC seat could aggravate serious domestic policy disagreements over regional issues -- Iran, in particular -- the draw of the spotlight has proven too strong for the GOL. In spite of the initial efforts they are making to prepare for their upcoming responsibilities, we strongly suspect that the Lebanese do not yet appreciate the bureaucratic heavy-lifting associated with a seat on the UNSC. SISON |